Description
This zesty Lemon Chicken Pasta combines tender chicken breast strips with a creamy, tangy lemon sauce tossed with your favorite pasta. The dish features a luscious blend of heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest for a bright and comforting meal. Perfect for a delicious weeknight dinner, this recipe is straightforward, flavorful, and garnished with fresh parsley and lemon slices for an elegant touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz (225g) pasta of choice (e.g., fettuccine or spaghetti)
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Prepare Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Season the chicken strips with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to ensure they are well flavored.
- Cook Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken strips in the skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes per side until they are golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Make Sauce Base: Pour in the heavy cream, chicken broth, lemon juice, and add the lemon zest. Stir the mixture well and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Incorporate Cheese: Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it is completely melted and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add Butter: Stir in the butter until it melts and integrates seamlessly into the sauce, enhancing richness and flavor.
- Combine Pasta and Chicken: Return the cooked pasta and chicken strips to the skillet. Toss everything together carefully to coat the pasta and chicken evenly with the lemon cream sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Serve the lemon chicken pasta immediately, garnished with freshly chopped parsley and lemon slices for a fresh and attractive presentation.
Notes
- You can swap fettuccine or spaghetti for any pasta of your choice, such as penne or linguine.
- For extra zing, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
- Grate Parmesan cheese fresh for best flavor and smooth melting.
- Leftovers can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 days; reheat gently to prevent sauce separation.
