Description
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken, bowtie pasta, and vibrant broccoli in a creamy lemon butter sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups bowtie pasta
- 1 pound chicken breast, cubed
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 unit lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, remembering to reserve a splash of pasta water.
- In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. As it begins to bubble, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant—about 1 minute.
- Toss in the cubed chicken breast, seasoning it generously with salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook the chicken thoroughly until it turns golden and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (around 7-10 minutes).
- Add the broccoli florets to the skillet, cooking for about 3-5 minutes until they turn bright green and tender.
- Zest and juice the lemon right over the sizzling broccoli and chicken, melding flavors beautifully. If the skillet feels too dry, splash in some reserved pasta water to create a silky sauce.
- Gently combine the cooked bowtie pasta, ensuring each piece gets enveloped in that luscious cowboy butter sauce. Allow everything to simmer for an additional minute, letting the flavors mingle.
- Taste the dish and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if desired.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley for a vibrant touch.
Notes
This dish is versatile; you can substitute chicken with shrimp or firm tofu. Enjoy it with garlic bread or a caesar salad to complete your meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Cowboy Butter, Lemon Chicken, Bowtie Pasta, Comfort Food, Weeknight Dinner