Low Carb Cowboy Butter Lemon Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken and low-carb pasta in a zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce with herbs. Ready in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

→ Low-Carb Pasta

05 - 8 oz low-carb bowtie pasta (shirataki, lupin flour, or high-protein pasta)

→ Cowboy Butter Sauce

06 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 4 cloves garlic minced
08 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
09 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
11 - 1 tsp dried parsley
12 - 1 tsp dried chives
13 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
14 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
16 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook low-carb pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 - Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tbsp of the butter. Add the chicken and sauté until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, lower heat to medium. Add the remaining 4 tbsp butter and minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
05 - Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, parsley, chives, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently.
06 - Return the chicken to the skillet, add the cooked pasta, and toss to coat everything evenly in the cowboy butter sauce. Heat through for 2–3 minutes.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.

# Tips from dashanddishes:

01 -
  • The sauce hits every single flavor button in one bite, creamy, tangy, and gently spicy
  • Low-carb pasta has finally gotten good enough that nobody misses the real thing
  • This comes together in under 45 minutes but tastes like a restaurant weekend meal
02 -
  • Low-carb pasta can sometimes release extra liquid, so keep the sauce at a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil
  • The sauce thickens slightly as it stands, so do not worry if it looks thinner than you expect initially
03 -
  • Zest your lemon before you juice it, so much easier that way
  • Grate your garlic instead of mincing it if you want the flavor to distribute more evenly

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