Bold, buttery, zesty comfort
This Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken with Broccoli is a weeknight dinner dream—bold flavors, simple ingredients, and ready fast. Tender chicken is coated in rich cowboy butter infused with lemon, garlic, and herbs, then tossed with bowtie pasta and crisp broccoli for a perfectly balanced meal. It’s hearty enough for family dinner, impressive enough for guests, and easy enough for busy nights. If you love lemon chicken pasta recipes or one-pan-style comfort meals, this dish checks every box. Bright, buttery, and satisfying, it’s the kind of recipe you’ll save and come back to again and again.
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 4
📝 Ingredients
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tbsp)
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
- Optional garnish: grated Parmesan, fresh parsley, lemon slices
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Large pot
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Colander
- Wooden spoon or spatula
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and reserve ¼ cup pasta water. 🌊
- Season the chicken. Pat chicken dry and season evenly with salt, pepper, paprika, and dried thyme.
- Cook the chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and fully cooked. Remove to a plate. 🍗
- Make the cowboy butter. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in garlic, lemon zest, chili flakes, and parsley. Cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant. 🧈
- Bring it together. Add lemon juice, cooked pasta, broccoli, chicken, and reserved pasta water. Toss well until everything is coated and glossy.
- Finish & serve. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with Parmesan and fresh parsley before serving. 🍋✨
💡 Pro Tips
- Extra saucy: Add 1–2 tbsp more butter or a splash of pasta water before serving.
- Meal prep: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Protein swap: Chicken thighs work great and stay extra juicy.
- Veg boost: Spinach or asparagus can be added in the final toss for more greens.