2boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2tbspolive oil
3clovesgarlic, minced
1cupheavy cream
1lemon zestzest of 1 lemon
3tbsplemon juicejuice of 1 lemon
0.5cupgrated Parmesan cheese
0.25cupchopped fresh parsley
0.25tspred pepper flakesoptional
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.