Description
This creamy lemon chicken pasta combines tender chicken bites with a rich, zesty lemon-Parmesan sauce over silky linguine. It’s a comforting yet fresh dinner perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 12 oz linguine
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the linguine according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream, lemon zest, and juice. Bring to a simmer, then add Parmesan and stir until melted and the sauce thickens.
- Add the cooked linguine to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. If too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water. Return chicken to skillet and combine.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, add more zest or a splash of lemon juice at the end.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quicker version.
- Reserve pasta water helps loosen the sauce if it thickens too much.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 135mg