Description
This Lemon Chicken Pasta recipe combines tender chicken strips with a creamy, tangy lemon sauce served over perfectly cooked pasta. It’s a quick and flavorful dish that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 8 oz pasta (such as linguine or penne)
Chicken:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (sliced into strips)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Lemon Sauce:
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Cook the Chicken: In a skillet, cook chicken strips with seasonings until golden. Set aside.
- Make the Lemon Sauce: Cook garlic, then add lemon juice, zest, broth, and cream. Simmer until thickened. Stir in Parmesan.
- Combine: Return chicken to skillet, add pasta, toss to coat. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and lemon zest.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half or evaporated milk instead of heavy cream.
- Add spinach or asparagus for extra vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
