Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta
A vibrant and flavorful dish combining tender chicken, al dente pasta, and asparagus in a creamy lemon-garlic sauce, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz penne pasta or pasta of your choice
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-3 pieces ensures vibrant color
- 2 pieces chicken breasts, butterflied for quicker cooking
- to taste salt and pepper for seasoning the chicken
- 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking the chicken
- 2 tbsp butter for making the sauce
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
- 1 cup milk or half and half for creaminess
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, with extra for serving for a rich flavor
Instructions
Preparation
- Wash and trim the asparagus ends. Cut them into bite-sized 2-3 pieces.
- Butterfly the chicken breasts by slicing them horizontally to create thinner pieces. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Cooking
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package instructions.
- About five minutes before the pasta is done, toss in the asparagus pieces until tender.
- Once cooked, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and asparagus, and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook the seasoned chicken for about 4 minutes on one side until golden brown. Flip the chicken and cook for a few more minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, melt the butter over medium heat and sauté the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and milk, bringing to a gentle simmer. Stir in dried thyme and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Cut the cooked chicken into strips. Return the chicken to the pan, along with the cooked pasta, asparagus, and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Squeeze lemon juice into the mixture and toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water bit by bit for desired consistency.
Serving
- Serve with extra parmesan cheese on top and a lemon wedge on the side for added flavor.
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Notes
This dish can be customized with extra vegetables, different proteins, or gluten-free pasta as desired. Fresh ingredients elevate the flavor. Can be made ahead of time and stored separately.