Lemon Chicken Pasta – Perfect Weeknight Dinner Idea
Whether you’re preparing a special dinner for guests or looking for a comforting meal to enjoy at home, Lemon Chicken Pasta is a versatile choice. It’s elegant enough for a dinner party yet simple enough for a weeknight meal.
Servings 5
Ingredients
- 16 ounces mini farfalle pasta or your favorite bite-size pasta
- 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp garlic powder divided
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning divided
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3 tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 1 yellow squash chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta following the instructions on the package.
- While the pasta is cooking, season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, lemon zest, ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and onion powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side until it's cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and cover it with foil to keep it warm.
- Add another tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Once hot, add chopped zucchini and yellow squash. Season with salt, pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Cook for 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add the hot-cooked pasta to the skillet along with butter and lemon juice. Toss everything together until the butter has melted. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and toss again to combine.
- Chop the cooked chicken and add it back to the skillet. Serve garnished with parsley and extra parmesan cheese if desired.
- Enjoy your delicious chicken and vegetable pasta!
Notes
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded parmesan has a richer flavor and smoother texture compared to the powdered or pre-shredded varieties. It also melts better when sprinkled over warm pasta and chicken.
Lemon Juice: Using freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a significant boost in flavor compared to bottled lemon juice.
Parsley: Fresh parsley provides an extra burst of flavor that dried parsley flakes can't match.
Vegetables: You can switch the zucchini and squash for broccoli, asparagus, spinach, or any other favorite vegetable you prefer!
Pasta: Feel free to use your favorite bite-size pasta for this dish.