Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight

Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta – A bright, cozy, and everyday delight. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to keeping it from drying out. The crispy chicken and creamy sauce will make your kitchen smell amazing. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Blueberry Cake Donuts and Fried Potatoes, Onions, and Smoked Polish Sausage.

What You'll Need for Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 lemons
• 3 cloves garlic
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz pasta (like fettuccine or linguine)
• 1 cup frozen peas
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Optional: Parmesan cheese, for serving
• Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped

How to Make Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight

1. Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and heavy cream. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
3. Step 3: While the sauce is thickening, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and add to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine. Add frozen peas and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through.
4. Step 4: Slice the cooked chicken and add it back to the skillet. Toss everything to combine and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Serve with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Storing & Reheating Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Cook the pasta and heat the sauce separately before combining.

Freezing Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight

This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: Use high-quality chicken breasts for the best flavor.
• Best substitution: Substitute the heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
• Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little chicken broth or water.

Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight

⏱

Prep

10 mins

🍳

Cook

10 mins

⏳

Total

20 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-Free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 lemons
• 3 cloves garlic
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz pasta (like fettuccine or linguine)
• 1 cup frozen peas

Seasonings

• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Optional Toppings

• Parmesan cheese, for serving
• Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and heavy cream. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
3. Step 3: While the sauce is thickening, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and add to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine. Add frozen peas and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through.
4. Step 4: Slice the cooked chicken and add it back to the skillet. Toss everything to combine and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Serve with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Notes

• Chef tip: Use high-quality chicken breasts for the best flavor.
• Best substitution: Substitute the heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
• Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little chicken broth or water.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Cook the pasta and heat the sauce separately before combining.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 580
• Protein: 35g
• Fat: 32g
• Carbs: 45g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Cholesterol: 130mg
• Sat. Fat: 18g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Lemon Chicken Pasta: Cozy, Bright, and Everyday Delight and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!