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Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta

A close-up of Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta with Chicken, topped with Parmesan and fresh parsley.
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Make a rich and bright pasta dish featuring tender chicken, a creamy sauce, fresh lemon, and strong garlic flavor.

Ingredients

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  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 12 oz pasta (fettuccine or linguine recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let it burn.
  5. Pour in the white wine or broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
  7. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, one splash at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce.
  9. Stir in the fresh parsley. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  10. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

  • For a thicker sauce, let the cream simmer for an extra minute before adding the cheese.
  • If you skip the wine, use chicken broth for the deglazing step.
  • Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor; bottled juice changes the taste profile.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastytribune.com/creamy-lemon-garlic-pasta-with-chicken/