Description
A creamy, zesty pasta dish with juicy Cajun-seasoned chicken, tender broccoli, and a rich lemon cowboy butter sauce—perfect for a quick and flavorful dinner.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Cowboy Butter Lemon Sauce
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta & Veggies
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook bowtie pasta according to package directions until al dente.
2. Add broccoli florets during the last 3 minutes of cooking, then reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
3. Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until golden and cooked through, about 6–7 minutes, then remove and set aside.
5. Reduce heat to medium, melt butter in the skillet, and sauté garlic until fragrant.
6. Stir in red pepper flakes, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and lemon zest, then season with salt and pepper.
7. Return chicken, pasta, and broccoli to the skillet and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
8. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
9. Serve warm topped with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs.
Notes
Adjust red pepper flakes to control the heat level.
Add pasta water gradually to achieve a silky sauce consistency.
Reheat leftovers with a splash of water or broth to maintain creaminess.
Broccoli can be substituted with asparagus or spinach if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg