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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Italian Main Courses

    Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta

    Published: Jan 24, 2022 by Marissa Stevens · 23 Comments

    Quick Meals

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    A blend of rich and zesty flavors, this Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta is ready to serve in just 30 minutes. Tender chunks of chicken breast tossed with hot pasta and a buttery sauce that's brightened with lemon and parsley add up to a dish your entire family will love.

    Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta served in a white bowl photographed from above.

    Easy and economical, this simple pasta dish is a great alternative to eating out. Made with everyday ingredients that you may even have on hand, you can make a restaurant worthy meal in mere minutes.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You Need to Make Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta
    • Creamy, but lighter.
    • Keep your chicken juicy with these 3 tips.
    • Recipe Options
    • Serve With
    • You Should Also Try
    • How to Make Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta
    • Recipe Video
    • Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients You Need to Make Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta

    Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta Ingredients on a white marble board.
    • Pasta: spaghetti or other long, thin pasta
    • Olive Oil: ideally good extra-virgin olive oil
    • Butter: salted or unsalted butter
    • Garlic: large, fresh garlic cloves
    • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: omit to reduce spiciness or add more for extra spicy kick
    • Chicken Breasts: boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • Lemon: fresh lemon juice and zest
    • Parsley: fresh flat leaf parsley (also called Italian parsley)
    • Parmesan Cheese: or Pecorino Romano cheese
    • Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

    Creamy, but lighter.

    The silky, creamy sauce for this pasta has no heavy cream, just a simple blend of butter, olive oil, and a hefty measure of garlic. Fresh parsley and plenty of lemon juice and zest add brightness, while crushed red pepper flakes add a bit of kick.

    Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta served in a white bowl

    Keep your chicken juicy with these 3 tips.

    Chicken breast has a reputation for easily drying out and becoming rubbery. The great news is that it's easy to keep it tender and juicy.

    1. First, take your chicken out of the refrigerator about 15 minutes before you plan to cook it, so it's closer to room temperature.
    2. Second, make sure your pan is hot when you add the chicken so it cooks quickly.
    3. Last, and most importantly, don't overcook it. You want it to be cooked through (hot and no longer pink), but still juicy.

    Recipe Options

    • Parmesan cheese is ideal for this dish, but any hard, Italian cheese like Pecorino Romano or Asiago would also be excellent.
    • Add a splash of white wine if you like to break up the richness.
    • Make this a meal on it's own with a healthy portion of baby spinach, baby arugula, or stir in quickly steamed broccoli or cauliflower.

    Whether you need a quick weeknight meal or a simple main course for a dinner party, make this recipe once and I predict you'll turn to it often.

    Serve With

    • Arugula Salad
    • Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower (you could also stir this in to your pasta!)
    • Butter Lettuce Salad

    You Should Also Try

    • Lemon Garlic Pasta (a vegetarian version of this dish that everyone loves!)
    • Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta (a shrimp lovers version)
    • Tuna Pasta (with a no-cook sauce!)

    How to Make Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta

    Cook pasta according to package directions until firm to the bite; drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.

    adding pasta to boiling water.

    Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook garlic and red pepper flakes in sizzling hot olive oil and butter until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper; cook and stir 4 to 5 minute, until chicken is just cooked through.

    cooking garlic and red pepper flakes in butter in skillet.
    cooking chicken in garlic mixture in skillet.

    Add drained, cooked pasta and ¼ cup of reserved pasta water to chicken in skillet and toss to coat (add more pasta water as necessary to loosen the sauce). Remove skillet from heat and stir in parsley and fresh lemon juice and zest; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and scatter parmesan cheese over the top; serve.

    adding pasta parsley lemon zest and juice to skillet
    tossing lemon garlic chicken pasta with tongs.

    Recipe Video

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    Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta served in a white bowl.

    Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta

    Marissa Stevens
    A crowd pleasing pasta that's weeknight easy and dinner party elegant!
    5 from 6 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 659 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 ounces dried spaghetti or other long, thin pasta
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 5 large garlic cloves minced
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more
    • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
    • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
    • 1 large lemon juice and zest
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or more
    • 2 ounces parmesan cheese freshly grated, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until firm to the bite (al dente), about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
    • Meanwhile, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper; cook and stir until chicken is just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
    • Once you've drained the pasta, set skillet with chicken mixture over medium heat. Add drained, cooked pasta and ¼ cup of reserved pasta water; toss to coat. Cook and stir until heated through, adding more pasta water if pasta seems too dry.
    • Remove pasta from heat and stir in fresh lemon juice and zest, and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl or platter; top with grated parmesan cheese and serve.

    Notes

    1. Use any long, slender pasta you like for this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 659kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 41gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 706mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 784IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 214mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword comfort food, date night, dinner party, easy, quick
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Italian Main Courses

    • Lasagna with Cottage Cheese served on a white plate
      Lasagna with Cottage Cheese
    • tuna pasta served in an off-white ceramic bowl..
      Tuna Pasta
    • Gemelli Pasta with Lemon and Garlic in a white bowl, photographed from above.
      Gemelli Pasta with Lemon and Garlic
    • Asparagus Frittata wedge served on a white and gray plate.
      Asparagus Frittata

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. David Chronister says

      May 10, 2023 at 4:37 pm

      5 stars
      For my first time cooking an actual meal for my family, this was easy and scrumptious!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 11, 2023 at 11:27 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it, David!

        Reply
    2. randy L says

      May 08, 2023 at 6:29 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I always put lemon in my pasta dishes with seafood but never chicken and this was so great. Especially adding some white wine and spinach .

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 09, 2023 at 11:26 am

        So glad you're enjoying this, Randy, and adding your own touches!

        Reply
    3. Grace Burns says

      March 19, 2023 at 7:19 pm

      5 stars
      SOOOOO delicious!!! I used GF protein noodles which usually feel heavy but the sauce made this dish light and bright! Tastes like a fancy pasta dish but without the guilt of heavy cream and cooks quickly. Will definitely be making again!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        March 20, 2023 at 1:45 am

        Hi Grace! I'm so happy to hear how much you enjoyed this. Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    4. Joanne Bruno says

      February 27, 2023 at 1:01 pm

      Can you use leftover chicken?

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 27, 2023 at 2:47 pm

        Hi Joanne! Yes, absolutely. You can still add it in step 2 - just cook and stir until it's heated through.

        Reply
        • Joanne Bruno says

          February 28, 2023 at 8:37 am

          Thank you. Making this tonight !!

          Reply
    5. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

      January 27, 2022 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      My son just made a lemon chicken (with help) and pasta dinner and the family LOVED it. This makes me think of that, so I already know it would be a winner for us!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 3:51 pm

        Love that your son is cooking for you family, Katherine! I hope you all will love this version too!

        Reply
    6. Valentina says

      January 26, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      Such a bright and delicious dish. The generous helping of garlic makes me happy. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 3:52 pm

        Thank you, Valentina!

        Reply
    7. MaryAnn | The Beach House Kitchen says

      January 26, 2022 at 1:03 pm

      I've got to give this recipe a try Marissa. I know both Tom and I would love it. Love the added lemon flavor!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 3:52 pm

        Thank you MaryAnn! I hope you'll love it.

        Reply
    8. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

      January 25, 2022 at 4:48 pm

      Some of my favorite words! Lemon! Garlic!! Pasta!!! Plus, some protein for the win! Can’t wait to make this yummy recipe!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 3:52 pm

        Yay! Thanks, Cheyanne!

        Reply
    9. David @ Spiced says

      January 25, 2022 at 4:38 am

      5 stars
      This sounds like a delicious (and easy) dinner idea, Marissa! It's the perfect way to brighten up these cold, dreary winter days!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 3:53 pm

        Yes, definitely a burst of sunshine in the middle of winter!

        Reply
    10. Ben | Havocinthekitchen says

      January 24, 2022 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      I love the simplicity and freshness of this pasta. Sometimes it's almost surprising how just a few basic ingredients can bring so much flavour!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 3:53 pm

        So true, Ben!

        Reply
    11. angiesrecipes says

      January 24, 2022 at 5:13 am

      What amazing flavours! Bet it disappeared very quickly 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 03, 2022 at 3:53 pm

        haha...it sure did.

        Reply

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