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Lemon chicken pasta

🍋 Lemon Chicken Pasta – Creamy, Bright & Comforting

This Lemon Chicken Pasta is a fresh, zesty pasta dish featuring tender Chicken, a silky lemon cream sauce, garlic, and Parmesan. It’s light yet comforting—perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something quick but full of flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: italian inspired
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Chicken
  • 12 oz pasta fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts Chicken, sliced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Lemon Cream Sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half for lighter version
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Juice of 1–2 lemons Lemon
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • ½ tsp chili flakes optional
  • 1 tbsp butter
Optional Add-ins
  • Spinach
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh parsley

Method
 

1️⃣ Cook Pasta
  1. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup pasta water.
2️⃣ Cook Chicken
  1. Heat olive oil in a pan. Season sliced Chicken with salt and pepper.
  2. Cook until golden and fully cooked (about 6–8 minutes). Set aside.
3️⃣ Make the Sauce
  1. In the same pan, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
  2. Add cream, Parmesan, lemon juice, and zest. Stir until smooth.
4️⃣ Combine Everything
  1. Add pasta and chicken back into the pan. Toss to coat.
  2. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen sauce.
5️⃣ Finish & Serve
  1. Top with parsley, extra Parmesan, and a squeeze of fresh Lemon.

Notes

🍋 Fresh lemon juice gives the brightest flavor
🧄 Don’t burn garlic—cook it gently
🍝 Save pasta water to adjust sauce texture
🧀 Use freshly grated Parmesan for smooth melting
🍽️ Serving Ideas
Serve with:
Garlic bread
Simple green salad
Roasted vegetables
White wine or sparkling water with lemon