Description
Creamy, zesty, and ready in just 30 minutes, this Lemon Butter Chicken Pasta combines juicy pan-seared chicken with a luscious lemon-garlic cream sauce tossed with linguine. It’s a quick weeknight dinner that feels gourmet, all in under half an hour.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced lengthwise
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the Lemon Butter Pasta:
1 pound linguine or other long pasta
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
Juice of 2 large lemons
Zest of 1 lemon
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/3 cup reserved pasta cooking water
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan-style cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
1. Season the chicken on both sides with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the chicken and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, until fully cooked and golden. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve 1/3 cup of the pasta water.
4. In a separate large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter for the sauce. Stir in the garlic powder and cook briefly until fragrant.
5. Add salt, white pepper, lemon juice, and lemon zest, stirring to combine.
6. Pour in the heavy cream, reserved pasta water, and grated cheese. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring gently, until the sauce thickens.
7. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce a little at a time, tossing gently until evenly coated.
8. Serve the pasta warm with the chicken on the side or sliced over the top. Finish with extra grated cheese if desired.
Notes
For a lighter option, you can substitute Greek yogurt for the heavy cream—just add it off heat to prevent curdling. Add baby spinach or sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce for an easy variation. Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Quick & Easy Dinners
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American