Lemon Butter Garlic Chicken Pasta - Buttery pasta with juicy chicken, flavored with lemon butter and garlic, and finished with Parmesan cheese!! A family-friendly dinner recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes and it’s so EASY!!
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Total Time20 minutesmins
Course: 30-Minute Meals
Cuisine: Chicken
Servings: 8
Calories: 410kcal
Author: Averie Sunshine
Ingredients
1poundpenne pastacooked according to package directions (another small-shaped pasta such as ziti, rotini, small elbow, etc. may be substituted)
2poundsboneless skinless chicken breastdiced into bite-sized pieces
1+ teaspoons kosher saltor to taste
1+ teaspoons freshly ground black pepperor to taste
3 to 5clovesgarlicfinely minced or pressed
½cupunsalted buttersoftened to room temp if possible
⅓cuplemon juiceor to taste
¼ to ⅓cupfresh Italian flat-leaf parsleyfinely minced
½cupfreshly shaved Parmesan cheeseor to taste
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside. While pasta is cooking, being cooking the chicken.
To a large, high-sided skillet, add the olive oil, chicken, evenly and generously season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, flipping and stirring frequently so the chicken cooks evenly.
When chicken has cooked through about halfway, add the garlic, and cook for about 1 minute or until fragrant, stir nearly consistently.
Add the butter, lemon juice, and stir nearly continuously until butter melts and chicken is cooked through, another 5 minutes, or as necessary.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the chicken and stir well to combine and coat evenly.
Add the parsley and stir to combine.
Evenly sprinkle the Parmesan and stir to combine if desired (or keep it on top without stirring it in as shown in my photos). Taste and check for seasoning balance and if necessary add more salt and/or pepper before serving.
Notes
Recipe will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. It makes a big batch and it's great to freeze some of the leftovers. Thaw and reheat gently in the microwave as needed.