Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 chicken breast, cut into thin strips or bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for cooking
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 12 ounces pasta, any preferred shape, cooked according to package directions
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 4 ounces fresh spinach, a couple handfuls
- 1/2 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, prepare the chicken. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken strips or pieces with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning until evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until browned and thoroughly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
⏱️ 7 min
- 4
In the same pan, reduce the heat to medium. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook for 2-3 minutes to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Stir in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add the zest and juice of 1 lemon to the sauce, stirring to combine.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Add the fresh spinach to the pan. Stir continuously until the spinach has wilted into the sauce, which should take about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the pan with the creamy lemon sauce. Toss everything together thoroughly until all ingredients are well coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
If the sauce appears too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Serve the creamy lemon chicken pasta hot, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
For the Chicken
- 2 chicken breast, cut into thin strips or bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for cooking
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 12 ounces pasta, any preferred shape, cooked according to package directions
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 4 ounces fresh spinach, a couple handfuls
- 1/2 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, prepare the chicken. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken strips or pieces with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning until evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until browned and thoroughly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
⏱️ 7 min - 4
In the same pan, reduce the heat to medium. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook for 2-3 minutes to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Stir in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add the zest and juice of 1 lemon to the sauce, stirring to combine.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Add the fresh spinach to the pan. Stir continuously until the spinach has wilted into the sauce, which should take about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the pan with the creamy lemon sauce. Toss everything together thoroughly until all ingredients are well coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
If the sauce appears too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Serve the creamy lemon chicken pasta hot, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
⏱️ 1 min