Oh yes—Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta is rich, tangy, and downright comforting. 🍋🧄🍗🧀 Here’s a full recipe for a restaurant-style meal at home:
Ingredients (serves 4)
For the chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
For the creamy Parmesan pasta:
- 8 oz (225 g) pasta (fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta:
- Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the chicken:
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C). Remove and set aside.
3. Make the lemon garlic butter sauce:
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in lemon juice and zest.
- Return chicken to the skillet, spoon sauce over, and simmer 2–3 minutes.
4. Make the creamy Parmesan pasta:
- In a separate pan, melt butter and sauté garlic 1 minute.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Toss cooked pasta in the sauce until coated.
5. Serve:
- Plate pasta and top with lemon garlic butter chicken.
- Spoon extra sauce over chicken and pasta.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Pro tips:
- For extra richness, add a splash of white wine to the butter sauce before adding lemon juice.
- If the pasta sauce is too thick, thin it with a little pasta water.
- Sear chicken well to get a golden crust—that flavor is everything!
I can also give a one-pan version where the chicken and creamy pasta cook together in the same skillet for easier cleanup. Do you want that version?
