Description

A quick, 20-minute weeknight dinner featuring juicy chicken thighs in a rich, garlicky lemon butter sauce tossed with bowtie pasta. It’s a crowd-pleasing, pantry-friendly meal that tastes like restaurant quality.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 pound farfalle (bowtie) pasta
1/2 cup unsalted butter
6–8 cloves garlic, minced
2 large lemons (juice and zest)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon oil (for searing chicken)

Instructions

Prep ingredients: Chop parsley, mince garlic, zest and juice lemons, and measure cream and broth. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and toss with a little oil.
Sear chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
Make sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet. Once melted, add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up brown bits. Simmer for 2 minutes.
Finish sauce: Stir in heavy cream and simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened. Return chicken to the skillet.
Combine: Add cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency. Adjust seasoning. Top with fresh parsley and serve.

Notes

Save the starchy pasta water to help thicken the sauce. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Do not skimp on the butter. For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: Approximately 1.5 cu
Calories: 420
Sugar: 3
Sodium: 380
Fat: 18
Saturated Fat: 10
Carbohydrates: 48
Fiber: 2
Protein: 15

Keywords: chicken dinner, pasta recipe, cowboy butter, lemon garlic sauce, quick weeknight meals, easy chicken thighs, bowtie pasta