This easy Lemon herb chicken pasta is a delicious meal perfect for both spring and summer. It features pan-seared chicken breasts and al dente pasta, all tossed in a light and refreshing sauce, making it a complete meal. This dish is high in protein, and to make it healthier, I’ve added some chickpea pasta to boost the fiber content.
Preparing Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta is incredibly simple. Boil the pasta, and while it’s cooking, sauté the marinated chicken pieces in a pan until golden brown. Then, combine all the ingredients in the same pan with fresh herbs, garlic, lemon juice, and a little of the pasta water.
Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta is ready in just 30 minutes, making it an easy recipe for a quick dinner when you’re short on time.
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Ingredients
Yield: 4 Servings
- Pasta – 12 oz (Linguine or Penne)
- Chicken Breast – 1 lb, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
- Garlic – 3 cloves, minced
- Lemon Juice – 3 tablespoons
- Lemon Zest – 1 teaspoon
- Chicken Broth – 1/2 cup
- Fresh Parsley – 1/4 cup (Chopped)
- Fresh Pasil – 2 tablespoons (Chopped)
- Salt – 1/2 teaspoon
- Black Pepper – 1/4 teaspoon
Suggestions alternatives:
Healthy alternative – Swap out the regular pasta for whole wheat or chickpea pasta to boost the fiber and protein in your meal.
Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta
This light and refreshing chicken pasta with herbs and lemon is the perfect quick weeknight dinner. Tender pan-seared chicken pieces with al dente cooked pasta are tossed in a delicious and refreshing tangy sauce, ready in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (Linguine or Penne)
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Save 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the noodles.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss the chicken pieces with the salt and pepper, add them to the hot pan, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until browned and cooked all the way through (To add a distinctive flavor, you can stir the raw chicken pieces with a little olive oil and lemon zest, and leave them for 15 minutes before cooking)
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic to the pan, stirring continuously for 30 seconds to prevent burning.
- Pour the chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest into the skillet. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the liquid simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add the cooked pasta, fresh parsley, and fresh basil to the pan and stir well. If the pasta seems dry, add a little of the reserved pasta water until it's coated in sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 396Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 484mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 41g
Just a heads up — The calorie count and nutritional info here are just estimates! The actual numbers might vary a bit depending on the brands and ingredients you use.