Easy Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken Recipe – Creamy 30-Minute Pasta Dinner
Creamy, zesty cowboy butter lemon bowtie chicken pasta made with tender chicken, parmesan, garlic, and a rich lemon butter sauce. A quick 30-minute high-protein dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 oz bowtie pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook bowtie pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper and sear in olive oil until golden and cooked through. Remove.
- Melt butter, sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
- Add broth, lemon juice, zest, oregano, thyme, and optional chili flakes. Simmer 2 minutes.
- Stir in cream and Parmesan until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken and pasta to skillet, toss to coat. Add pasta water if needed.
- Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Always reserve pasta water to adjust sauce texture.
- Add white wine for deeper flavor if desired.
- Adjust spice level with chili flakes.
- Best served fresh; reheating requires extra cream or broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg