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Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta with Parmesan

A fork lifts strands of creamy lemon chicken pasta with parmesan cheese and herbs from a white bowl.
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A recipe for rich, creamy pasta featuring tender chicken, bright lemon flavor, and sharp Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound pasta (fettuccine or linguine recommended)
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Zest of 1 large lemon
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the white wine or chicken broth and let it simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by half.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream and the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
  7. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice until the sauce is smooth.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
  9. If the sauce seems too thick, add the reserved pasta water, one splash at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
  10. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
  11. Serve immediately, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For a brighter flavor, use fresh lemon juice only; bottled juice changes the taste.
  • If you prefer a richer sauce, substitute half of the heavy cream with cream cheese, softened.
  • Add sautéed mushrooms or spinach along with the chicken for added vegetables.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hungryhearld.com/creamy-lemon-chicken-pasta-with-parmesan/