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    Home » Easy Recipes » Lemon Chicken Pasta

    Lemon Chicken Pasta

    Last updated September 4, 2022. Originally posted September 4, 2022 By Jenny Skrapaliori-Graves. Leave a Comment.

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    The beauty of this lemon chicken pasta lies in its simplicity. All you need are chicken thighs, pasta, lemons, herbs, extra virgin olive oil, and a hunk of Parmesan cheese for a weeknight-friendly meal. The sauce has a rich, creamy, lemony brightness which elevates the chicken and pasta to a state of luxury.

    If you love this lemon chicken pasta, you will also love this easy parmesan-crusted chicken with mayo, buttermilk chicken thighs or stuffed chicken with tomatoes & feta!

    A skillet with lemon chicken pasta, utensils, herbs, a cloth napkin, and lemon halves.

    Why this recipe sings

    Lemon zest, lemon juice, and Parmesan combine for a silky and vibrant sauce that makes this weeknight-friendly pasta sing. Our simple but indulgent dish is garnished with chopped spearmint leaves for freshness and a bright note.

    Here is what you need

    All the ingredients for making lemon chicken pasta on a butcher block.
    • Chicken thighs. Skinless and boneless. You can also use chicken breasts.
    • Garlic. Because everything is better with a bit of garlic. 🙂
    • Lemons. For their juice and zest. They add a bright Mediterranean vibe to this pasta.
    • Butter and Parmesan cheese. The cheese emulsifiers with the butter and pasta water to create a silky flavorful sauce.
    • Spaghetti. Or the pasta of your choice.
    • Extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

    Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

    Let's make it

    Four steps for making lemon chicken pasta.

    Season the chicken with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.  Heat a skillet over high heat. Add the olive oil and the chicken thighs and saute on all sides. Lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through—transfer the chicken to a plate (Image 1). 

    Cook the pasta al dente and reserve some pasta water for later.

    Add butter and garlic to the same skillet. Scrape the bottom to release the delicious fond from cooking the chicken. Sauté the sliced garlic until fragrant (Image 2). 

    Add the pasta and stir (Image 3).

    Two last steps for making lemon chicken pasta.

    Add the lemon juice, zest, and grated parmesan, and stir. Use a bit of the reserved pasta water to loosen up the sauce if you need to (Image 4+5).

    Return the chicken with its juices to the pasta (Image 6).

    Finish the dish by drizzling some lemon juice and sprinkling some zest and fresh spearmint leaves on top.

    Adjust sea salt and pepper to taste, and serve. Pass more lemon wedges around the table.

    A skillet with lemon chicken pasta, utensils, herbs, a cloth napkin, and lemon halves.

    More chicken dinner recipes

    • Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs
    • Greek Dutch Oven Roast Chicken
    • Chicken Gyro Souvlaki With Pita And Mustard Aioli
    • Greek Lemon Chicken Soup - Kotopoulo Soupa Avgolemono

    You may also like

    • Fried Egg Sandwich
    • Amazing Tomato Confit With Herbs
    • Quick Pumpkin Stew with Tortellini
    • Tomato Chicken Tortellini Soup

    Check out my Greek pantry staples 

    Cooked this? Rate this recipe! You can also leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!

    WANT TO EAT LIKE A GREEK? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

    A skillet with lemon chicken pasta, utensils, herbs, a cloth napkin, and lemon halves.

    Lemon Chicken Pasta

    by Jenny | The Greek Foodie
    The beauty of this lemon chicken pasta lies in its simplicity. All you need are chicken thighs, pasta, lemons, butter, extra virgin olive oil, and a hunk of Parmesan cheese for a weeknight-friendly meal.
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    Print Recipe
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Greek, International
    Servings 4
    Calories 703 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 chicken thighs skinless and boneless
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 1 lemon juiced and zested
    • 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
    • 8 oz spaghetti half of a packet
    • sea salt
    • freshly ground pepper

    For serving

    • fresh spearmint leaves
    • lemon wedges

    Instructions
     

    • Season the chicken with sea salt and freshly ground pepper on all sides. 
    • Heat a skillet over high heat. Add the olive oil and the chicken thighs and saute on all sides. Lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through—transfer the chicken to a plate.
    • Cook the pasta al dente according to the package directions. Reserve some pasta water for later.
    • Add butter and garlic over medium heat in the same skillet. Sauté the sliced garlic until fragrant.
    • Add the pasta and stir.
      Add the lemon juice, zest, and grated parmesan, and stir. Use some reserved pasta water to loosen up the sauce if you need to.
    • Return the chicken with its juices to the pasta. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
      Finish the dish by drizzling some lemon juice and sprinkling some zest and fresh spearmint leaves on top.

    Notes

    Nutritional Info – Please remember that the nutritional information provided is only estimated and can vary based on the products used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 703kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 35gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 559mgPotassium: 427mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 552IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 329mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thegreekfoodie__ or tag #thegreekfoodie__
    Lemon Chicken Pasta
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    Hi there!

    I am Jenny, a Greek expat living in the greater New York City area. I like to say I am a beauty art director turned foodie, aka the Greek foodie. Born and raised in Greece, my fondness for good food goes hand in hand with my heritage. My absolute favorite thing to do is cook delicious food to enjoy with family and friends.... Find out more about me here…

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