Can I use a different pasta shape instead of bowtie?

Absolutely. Any short pasta shape with ridges or texture works beautifully in this recipe. Penne rigate, rigatoni, fusilli, and rotini all grip the cowboy butter lemon cream sauce as effectively as bowtie pasta. The ridges and grooves on these shapes are what catch and hold the sauce in every bite. Long pasta like spaghetti or fettuccine will work but does not hold the thick cream sauce as efficiently as short ridged shapes do.

Can I use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to save time?

Yes and it is a very good shortcut for busy weeknights. Skip the chicken searing steps entirely. Begin by cooking 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the garlic over medium heat for 30 seconds, then proceed with the broth and cream sauce from there. Shred or chop approximately 2 cups of rotisserie chicken meat and add it to the finished sauce with the pasta and broccoli. The sauce will be slightly less complex without the caramelized chicken drippings but the cowboy butter herb and lemon flavors will still be completely delicious.

What makes this a cowboy butter sauce specifically?

Cowboy butter is a compound butter or sauce made with a generous combination of garlic, multiple fresh herbs typically parsley, chives, and thyme, lemon juice and zest, and often a pinch of red pepper flakes and Dijon mustard. Its name comes from its bold and generous flavor profile, more garlic, more herbs, and more lemon than a standard herb butter, which gives everything it touches an assertive and deeply satisfying character that is distinct from a classic French herb butter.

Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta Easy Creamy Lemon 30 Minute Dinner

Name: Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta The Most Bold and Creamy Dinner You Will Ever Make
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into even bite-sized pieces; 8 oz Bowtie Pasta; 2 cups Fresh Broccoli Florets; 2 tbsp Olive Oil; 4 cloves Fresh Garlic minced; 1/2 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth; 1/2 cup Heavy Cream; 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley chopped; 2 tbsp Fresh Chives chopped; 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme chopped; 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice; 1 tsp Lemon Zest; 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes optional; Salt and Black Pepper to taste; Grated Parmesan for serving optional

Description

The most bold and creamy Cowboy Butter Chicken Pasta made with golden seared chicken, bowtie pasta, and fresh broccoli tossed in a zesty lemon herb cowboy butter cream sauce with garlic, parsley, chives, and thyme. A deeply satisfying one-skillet dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into even bite-sized pieces

8 oz Bowtie Pasta

2 cups Fresh Broccoli Florets

2 tbsp Olive Oil

4 cloves Fresh Garlic minced

1/2 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth

1/2 cup Heavy Cream

1/4 cup Fresh Parsley chopped

2 tbsp Fresh Chives chopped

1 tbsp Fresh Thyme chopped

2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp Lemon Zest

1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes optional

Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Grated Parmesan for serving optional

Instructions

1. Prep all ingredients before cooking. Mince garlic, chop herbs, juice and zest lemon, cut and season chicken.

2. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta 10 to 11 minutes until al dente.

3. In the last 2 minutes add broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water.

4. Drain pasta and broccoli together. Do not rinse.

5. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

6. Add chicken in a single layer without crowding. Cook 5 to 7 minutes turning once until golden and 165°F internal.

7. Remove chicken to a plate. Reduce heat to medium.

8. Add minced garlic to same skillet. Stir constantly 30 seconds until fragrant.

9. Deglaze with chicken broth scraping up all browned bits from the pan.

10. Add heavy cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

11. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.

12. Stir in fresh parsley, chives, and thyme.

13. Return chicken, pasta, and broccoli to skillet. Toss to coat and heat through 1 to 2 minutes.

14. Serve immediately garnished with extra herbs and Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Never rinse drained pasta. Surface starch helps the cream sauce cling to every piece.

Cook chicken in a single layer in batches if needed for proper searing.

Do not substitute heavy cream with milk or half-and-half as the sauce will break.

Fresh herbs are essential in this recipe. Dried herbs do not produce the same bright flavor.

Store refrigerated up to 3 days. Reheat gently on stovetop with a splash of broth or cream.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course, Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 580
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 420mg
Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 13g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 52g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 42g
Cholesterol: 110mg

Keywords: cowboy butter chicken pasta, cowboy butter pasta, lemon herb chicken pasta, creamy bowtie chicken pasta recipe