Description
A quick, flavorful dinner that feels gourmet without the time commitment. The dish features bowtie pasta, chicken, and broccoli in a rich lemon butter sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (Adjust according to spice preference)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil (For cooking chicken)
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter (For the sauce)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (Plus extra for topping)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (To adjust sauce consistency)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook bowtie pasta until al dente.
- Add broccoli to the pasta water in the last 2 minutes and drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes, then remove from pan.
- Lower heat to medium and melt butter in the same skillet.
- Stir in Dijon, lemon juice, lemon zest, and crushed red pepper flakes if using.
- Add cooked pasta and broccoli to the skillet and toss to coat in the butter sauce.
- Stir in grated Parmesan and add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach a silky sauce.
- Return the chicken to the pan and toss everything together until warm and coated.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley and chives on top and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot with extra Parmesan for topping.
Notes
Meal can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken, pasta, dinner, easy recipe, weeknight meal