Description
Savor Mediterranean magic with zesty lemon chicken pasta, where tender chicken meets tangy citrus in a creamy sauce. Fresh herbs and parmesan elevate this simple yet elegant dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Pasta and Base:
- 12 oz linguine or spaghetti
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Flavor and Seasoning:
- 3 lemons (juice and zest)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts into thin, uniform strips to ensure even cooking and quick preparation.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook linguine until al dente, approximately 8-9 minutes, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté chicken strips until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium-low and add minced garlic, cooking until fragrant but not browned, roughly 30 seconds.
- Incorporate butter into the skillet, allowing it to melt and create a rich, smooth base for the sauce.
- Zest and juice lemons directly into the skillet, stirring to combine with the chicken and garlic mixture.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing thoroughly to coat with the lemon-garlic sauce, using reserved pasta water to help create a silky texture if needed.
- Sprinkle red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper over the pasta, mixing well to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Remove from heat and fold in freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
- Serve immediately, garnishing with additional parsley and parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Slice chicken thinly and uniformly to guarantee consistent cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Use fresh lemons for maximum zesty flavor, avoiding bottled juice which can taste flat and artificial.
- Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to create silky, glossy sauce that perfectly coats every pasta strand without becoming dry.
- Optional dairy-free adaptation: Replace butter with olive oil and skip parmesan, or use nutritional yeast for a similar cheesy flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 660
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg