Easy • Pasta
Speedy Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta
This vibrant lemon pepper chicken pasta comes together in a flash, offering bright flavors and creamy comfort perfect for any weeknight.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Level
- Easy
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Craving something bright, satisfying, and incredibly quick? This Speedy Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta is your new weeknight hero! It’s packed with zingy lemon, aromatic black pepper, tender chicken, and a silky sauce that coats every strand of pasta beautifully. Trust us, it'll be on your table faster than you can order takeout.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings
Main
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning, plus more to taste
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 oz penne or rotini pasta
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Step 1
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
Step 2
While pasta cooks, pat chicken dry. In a medium bowl, toss chicken with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt.
Step 3
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
Step 4
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet and melt. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 5
Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a simmer, then stir in Parmesan cheese and lemon juice.
Step 6
Add cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to reach your desired sauce consistency. Taste and adjust lemon pepper seasoning or salt if desired.
Step 7
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
Tips
- Don't overcook the pasta! Al dente pasta holds up best in this creamy sauce.
- If you don't have heavy cream, a splash of milk or half-and-half can work, but the sauce won't be quite as rich.
- Feel free to add a handful of spinach at the end for an extra pop of green and nutrients.
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