Oh, that sounds delicious! Here’s a full recipe for Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta that’s rich, tangy, and comforting—perfect for a satisfying dinner. I’ll break it down step by step.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning
For the Pasta:
- 8 oz (about 225 g) fettuccine or pasta of choice
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain and set aside, reserving about ½ cup pasta water.
2. Cook the Chicken
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken 5–7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
- Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Make Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add butter.
- Sauté minced garlic for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add lemon juice, lemon zest, chicken broth, and thyme.
- Let it simmer for 3–4 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
4. Make Creamy Parmesan Pasta Sauce
- In another pan (or same skillet if you remove chicken), melt butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
- Pour in heavy cream and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Toss cooked pasta in the sauce.
5. Combine and Serve
- Place chicken on top of creamy pasta.
- Spoon extra lemon garlic butter sauce over the chicken.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Tips & Variations:
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
- You can swap chicken breasts for thighs—they stay juicier.
- For extra richness, stir a bit of cream cheese into the pasta sauce.
If you want, I can also make a super quick 30-minute version that’s even faster but just as creamy and flavorful—perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Do you want me to do that?
