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A close-up shot of a white plate piled high with perfectly cooked garlic paprika shrimp skillet, garnished with fresh parsley.
Reda

Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta

This incredibly quick and easy pasta dish features tender chicken tossed in a luscious, bright lemon-herb cream sauce, perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 780

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Pasta
  • 12 oz fettuccine or linguine
For the Cream Sauce
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 cups heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth
  • 0.25 cup fresh lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated, plus more for serving

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Large Pot
  • Whisk

Method
 

Cook the Chicken and Pasta
  1. Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  2. While the chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the fettuccine and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
Make the Creamy Lemon Herb Sauce
  1. In the same skillet (no need to clean it!), melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  2. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
  3. Stir in the fresh lemon juice, chopped parsley, chopped dill, and grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk until well combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Combine and Serve
  1. Add the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat everything evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
  2. Divide the pasta among serving bowls and garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs, if desired. Enjoy warm!

Notes

Want to add some veggies? Sauté a handful of spinach or some thinly sliced zucchini with the garlic for a healthier twist. For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic. You can prepare the chicken and chop the herbs ahead of time to make this a truly lightning-fast weeknight dinner.