Here’s a Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta—a bright, flavorful, and comforting dinner that pairs juicy, buttery chicken with a luscious Parmesan pasta.

🍋🧄 Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta

Ingredients (serves 4)

For the Chicken

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta

• 8 oz fettuccine or spaghetti
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• Optional: ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the Pasta

1. Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente.
2. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.

2️⃣ Cook the Chicken

1. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 2 tbsp butter over medium-high heat.
3. Cook chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
4. Remove chicken from skillet and let rest.

3️⃣ Make Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

1. In the same skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter.
2. Add minced garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and Italian seasoning.
4. Return chicken to skillet, coating with sauce.

4️⃣ Make the Creamy Parmesan Pasta

1. In a separate pan, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
3. Pour in heavy cream, bring to gentle simmer.
4. Gradually whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
5. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat; use reserved pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.
6. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.

5️⃣ Serve

• Plate pasta and top with lemon garlic butter chicken.
• Drizzle extra sauce over chicken and garnish with fresh parsley.

🍋 Tips & Variations

• Extra flavor: Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes to the pasta.
• Creamier sauce: Stir in a little cream cheese.
• Zesty twist: Add a splash of white wine to the garlic butter sauce.
• Make one-pan: Cook pasta in chicken stock directly in the skillet with sauce for a simpler version.

If you want, I can also give a one-skillet version where the chicken, sauce, and pasta all cook together for faster cleanup.

Do you want me to do that?