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Lemon Chicken Pasta

A bright and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a zesty lemon cream sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Prep : 10 Total : 25 minutes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 12 oz fettuccine or linguine pasta
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 lemon zest zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice juice of 1 lemon
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes optional

Instructions
 

Preparation Steps

  • Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 0.5 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
  • Season the chicken strips with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Reduce heat to medium and stir in heavy cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  • Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta, Parmesan cheese, and parsley. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce.
  • Season with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.

Notes

For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or whole milk for the heavy cream. Garnish with extra lemon zest for added brightness.