Description
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring chicken and creamy mozzarella bowtie pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced thick
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 2 lemons
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the bowtie pasta in a large pot of salted water until tender, usually around 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side until golden-brown and cooked through. Once done, remove from the pan and let it rest before slicing.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Pour in the fresh lemon juice and zest, and let it simmer for about a minute.
- Introduce the heavy cream and chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer while stirring occasionally.
- Add the softened cream cheese, stirring until it melts and combines smoothly with the sauce. Gradually mix in the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan until the sauce is thick, glossy, and creamy.
- Toss the cooked bowtie pasta into the creamy sauce, ensuring that every piece is coated well.
- Slice the rested chicken and arrange it atop the pasta. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and lemon slices before serving hot.
Notes
For a lighter sauce, consider substituting less cream with Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 24g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: chicken, pasta, creamy, lemon, family dinner, Italian