Creamy Lemon Feta Chicken & Bow Tie Pasta with Broccoli: Your Go-To Easy Weeknight Meal

Imagine a delicious, satisfying meal that comes together quickly on your stovetop without ever needing to turn on the oven. This Creamy Lemon Feta Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta with Broccoli is precisely that – a vibrant, flavorful dish perfect for a busy weeknight. Featuring tender chicken, al dente bow tie pasta, and crisp-tender broccoli, all coated in a rich, lemony cream sauce and studded with salty feta cheese, this recipe promises comfort and convenience in every bite. It’s an excellent way to transform leftover chicken into something new and exciting, or it can be prepared from scratch with just a few simple steps.

This dish is a testament to how simple ingredients can create extraordinary flavors. The bright, zesty notes of lemon-pepper seasoning perfectly complement the rich, tangy feta cheese and creamy sauce, while the broccoli adds a welcome pop of color and essential nutrients. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting in the kitchen, this recipe offers a straightforward path to a truly satisfying meal that your whole family will love.

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Quick & Easy: Ready in About 30 Minutes

One of the biggest advantages of this chicken and pasta dish is its incredible speed. If you have leftover cooked chicken on hand, you can truly have this meal on the table in about 30 minutes or even less. The process is streamlined by cooking the pasta and vegetables simultaneously while your chicken is quickly sautéed or grilled. This efficiency makes it an ideal candidate for those evenings when time is short but you still crave a homemade, wholesome meal.

Preparing the chicken from scratch adds only a few extra minutes, making it still very much a fast-casual recipe. We’ll guide you through quick cooking methods for boneless chicken breasts to ensure they’re tender and perfectly seasoned, ready to be incorporated into the creamy pasta dish.

Essential Ingredients for Our Lemony Feta Chicken Pasta

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, requiring a handful of readily available ingredients that deliver a big impact. Here’s what you’ll need, along with some notes on choosing and potential substitutions:

• Boneless Chicken Breasts: We recommend boneless, skinless chicken breasts for their lean protein and quick cooking time. You can also use chicken thighs if you prefer darker meat, or even rotisserie chicken for an even faster prep. Cut them into bite-sized pieces for even cooking and easy incorporation into the pasta.
• Bowtie Pasta (Farfalle): The classic “bow tie” shape is fun and holds the creamy sauce beautifully. Feel free to use other pasta shapes like penne, rotini, or even linguine if that’s what you have on hand. Just ensure you cook it to al dente as per package directions.
• Frozen California Blend Vegetables: This mix typically includes broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, offering a colorful and nutritious boost. Using frozen vegetables is a fantastic shortcut, eliminating chopping and ensuring consistent quality. If you prefer, fresh broccoli florets or a mix of your favorite vegetables like peas, corn, or bell peppers would also work well.
• Crumbled Feta Cheese: Feta is the star for its distinctive tangy, salty flavor that brightens the entire dish. Opt for good quality crumbled feta. If feta isn’t your favorite, you could try goat cheese for a similar tangy profile, or even a mix of Parmesan and a little cream cheese for extra creaminess and a milder flavor.
• Lemon-Pepper Seasoning: This all-in-one seasoning blend provides a wonderful citrusy and peppery kick to the chicken. You can adjust the amount to your taste. If you don’t have lemon-pepper, a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and fresh lemon zest and juice will achieve a similar flavor profile. Don’t forget a pinch of salt if your blend isn’t pre-salted.
• Butter: Essential for building the rich, luscious cream sauce. Unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dish.
• Half and Half: This gives our sauce its creamy texture without being overly heavy. For a richer sauce, use heavy cream. For a lighter version, milk can be used, but the sauce might not thicken as much.
• Optional: Fresh Lemon Juice & Zest: For an extra burst of fresh lemon flavor, stir in a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of lemon zest at the end.
• Optional: Fresh Garlic: Minced fresh garlic sautéed before adding butter can elevate the flavor significantly.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

Preparing this dish is straightforward and doesn’t require any specialized equipment. Here’s a quick list of what you’ll likely use:

• Large Pot: For cooking the pasta and vegetables.
• Skillet or Grill Pan: For cooking the chicken.
• Cutting Board & Knife: For prepping chicken and slicing.
• Measuring Cups & Spoons: For accurate ingredient amounts.
• Stirring Spoons/Spatula: For mixing and stirring.
• Colander: For draining the pasta and vegetables.

Adaptations for Dietary Restrictions and Preferences

This recipe is highly adaptable, making it easy to tailor to various dietary needs or simply to what you have available in your pantry.

Gluten-Free

Making this dish gluten-free is incredibly simple. Most grocery stores now offer a wide variety of excellent gluten-free pastas made from corn, rice, or legumes. These often have a similar texture and cooking time to traditional pasta, so simply substitute your preferred gluten-free bow tie pasta. Always check package directions for specific cooking times as they can vary. Alternatively, if you want to skip pasta altogether, you can significantly increase the amount of vegetables, or serve the chicken and creamy sauce over a bed of quinoa or rice for a naturally gluten-free option.

Vegetarian

Transforming this into a delicious vegetarian meal is also very straightforward. The chicken can be easily omitted without compromising the creamy, flavorful sauce. To maintain a balanced meal with sufficient protein, consider adding:

• Cannellini Beans: A can of rinsed and drained cannellini beans (or other white beans) adds a hearty texture and protein. Stir them in along with the vegetables and feta.
• Chickpeas: Roasted or sautéed chickpeas can add a lovely texture and protein.
• Tofu or Tempeh: Cubed and pan-fried tofu or tempeh seasoned with lemon-pepper can be a fantastic meat substitute.
• Additional Vegetables: Boost the vegetable content with extra broccoli, spinach (stir in at the end until wilted), mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes for more depth of flavor and nutrients.

With these simple adjustments, everyone can enjoy a version of this delightful stovetop pasta meal.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Lemony Feta Chicken Pasta

Follow these easy steps to create a flavorful and satisfying meal in no time:

1. Prepare the Chicken: Season your boneless chicken breasts generously with lemon-pepper seasoning. You can grill, broil, or quickly sauté them in a pan with a little olive oil until they are fully cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C). Once cooked, let them rest for a few minutes before slicing them into bite-sized strips or cubes. Set aside.
2. Cook Pasta and Vegetables: While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. In the last 3-5 minutes of pasta cooking, add the frozen California blend vegetables to the pot. This allows them to cook alongside the pasta, saving time and another pot.
3. Drain and Return: Once the pasta and vegetables are cooked, carefully drain them in a colander. Return the drained pasta and vegetables to the empty cooking pot.
4. Create the Cream Sauce Base: Add the butter to the hot pasta and vegetables in the pot. Stir gently until the butter is completely melted, coating everything evenly. Then, pour in the half and half. Turn the stove on to a low heat setting.
5. Combine and Thicken: Stir in the crumbled feta cheese, the cooked and sliced chicken, and any additional fresh lemon juice or zest if desired. Continue to gently heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce warms through and thickens slightly to your preferred consistency. The feta will melt slightly, creating a wonderfully creamy and tangy sauce.
6. Serve Immediately: Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve hot and enjoy your homemade, restaurant-quality meal!

Expert Tips for a Perfect Chicken and Pasta Dish

Achieving a perfect creamy lemon feta chicken pasta is easy with a few simple tips:

• Utilize Pre-Cooked Chicken: To save even more time, use pre-cooked chicken breast cuts from the refrigerated or freezer section of your grocery store. Rotisserie chicken is another fantastic option – just shred or dice and add it in!
• Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Pasta should be cooked al dente, meaning it still has a slight bite to it. It will continue to absorb some of the sauce, so avoid mushy pasta by removing it from heat slightly before it’s fully soft.
• Adjust Seasoning: Lemon-pepper seasoning can vary in salt content. Taste your chicken after seasoning and again after the sauce is complete. Add extra salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed to balance the flavors.
• Enhance Lemon Flavor: For a brighter, more pronounced lemon taste, add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon juice and a pinch of lemon zest directly into the sauce just before serving.
• Prevent Sauce from Curdling: When adding half and half or cream, ensure the stove is on low heat. High heat can sometimes cause dairy to curdle. Gently warming and stirring will help create a smooth sauce.
• Cheese Variations: While feta is key, a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese over individual servings can add another layer of savory goodness.
• Adding Garlic: For deeper flavor, sauté 1-2 cloves of minced garlic in a teaspoon of olive oil in the pot before adding the butter and half and half for the sauce base.

Recipe Card

Chicken and Feta Bow Tie Pasta

5 from 1 vote

Chicken with bow tie pasta and broccoli in a delicious lemony cream sauce come together in this easy weeknight meal that doesn’t heat up the oven. It’s a good recipe to use leftover chicken if you have it or to quickly sauté or grill it if you are starting from scratch. Frozen vegetables make it quick to prepare.

Author
Author:

Mary Ann

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Prep Time

10 minutes
mins

Cook Time

20 minutes
mins

Total Time

30 minutes
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Course
Main Dish

Cuisine
American

Servings

6
servings

Calories
487

Ingredients

  

• 4
  boneless chicken breasts
• 2
  cups
  bow tie pasta
• 12
  ounces
  frozen California blend vegetables
• 8
  ounces
  crumbled feta cheese
• 1
  teaspoon
  lemon-pepper seasoning,
  or to taste
• 4
  tablespoons
  butter
• 1½
  cups
  half and half

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Instructions

• Season 4 boneless chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning and grill or broil it until done.
• Meanwhile, cook 2 cups bow tie pasta and 12 ounces frozen California blend vegetables according to package directions.
• When the chicken is done, slice it into strips and set aside.
• Drain pasta and return it to the cooking pot.
• Add 4 tablespoons butter to the pasta and stir gently until melted.
• Add 1½ cups half and half and turn stove on to low heat.
• Stir in 8 ounces crumbled feta cheese, vegetables, and chicken. Heat until everything is hot and the sauce is thickened to your preference.

Notes

Adaptations:

Gluten-free

You can find a variety of gluten-free pastas in most grocery stores, or you could add more vegetables and omit the pasta.

Vegetarian

Like most stovetop pasta meals, it’s easy to omit the chicken from this recipe and balance it out by adding additional vegetables or a can of rinsed and drained cannellini beans.

Nutrition per serving

Calories:
487
cal


Carbohydrates:
26
g


Protein:
27
g


Fat:
30
g


Sodium:
589
mg


Fiber:
2
g


Sugar:
2
g

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