Description
A delightful dish combining tender chicken, flavorful bowtie pasta, and vibrant broccoli in a creamy and zesty sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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
- 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
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Boil salted water in a large pot and cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes.
- In the last 3 minutes of pasta cooking, add broccoli florets.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the rest.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook the seasoned chicken for about 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Reduce heat to medium, add butter, and let it melt with swirling to blend flavors with chicken.
- Add Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and lemon zest to the skillet and let it simmer for a minute.
- Gradually stir in grated Parmesan cheese to thicken the sauce.
- If the sauce is too thick, adjust with reserved pasta water.
- Add cooked pasta and broccoli to the skillet and toss to coat with the sauce.
- Mix in parsley and chives. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.
Notes
For added flavor, marinate the chicken before cooking. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: chicken, bowtie pasta, broccoli, creamy sauce, weeknight dinner