Description
A vibrant and creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta featuring tender seared chicken breasts tossed with pasta in a tangy lemon and garlic sauce, finished with Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs for a bright, flavorful meal ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces pasta, any shape
Chicken
- 4 thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Fresh-ground black pepper, to taste
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 Tablespoons butter, divided
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Lemon wedges
- Fresh parsley or thyme
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water until just shy of al dente, then drain it and set aside to be combined later.
- Season Chicken: Season the thin-sliced chicken breasts evenly with kosher salt, garlic powder, freshly ground black pepper, and lemon zest to infuse flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat and sear the seasoned chicken breasts until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant. Then add white wine, chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, and Italian seasoning. Simmer the sauce to meld flavors and reduce slightly.
- Combine: Toss the cooked pasta with Parmesan cheese in the skillet with the sauce. Return the seared chicken to the skillet and combine well, allowing the pasta to absorb the sauce flavors and the chicken to warm through.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and chicken, then garnish with fresh lemon wedges, additional grated Parmesan, and fresh parsley or thyme. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use fresh lemon juice and zest from a large lemon.
- You can substitute white wine with extra chicken broth if desired.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the spiciness level.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best melting and flavor.
- Thin-sliced chicken breasts help ensure quick, even cooking.
