Description
This One-Pot Lemon Chicken Pasta is a quick, flavorful dish combining tender chicken, zesty lemon, and perfectly cooked penne pasta all in one skillet. Perfect for a busy weeknight, it offers a comforting yet bright meal that’s easy to prepare and clean up.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 Tbsp garlic and herb seasoning
Cooking & Flavoring
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Other Ingredients
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Cut boneless chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and season thoroughly with garlic and herb seasoning, ensuring every piece is well-coated for maximum flavor.
- Sauté the chicken and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned on all sides. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, then remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to keep warm.
- Cook pasta in broth and lemon mixture: Into the same skillet, add lemon juice, lemon zest, chicken broth, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and the penne pasta. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered. Cook until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Combine chicken and finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir gently to warm through. Remove skillet from heat, then stir in butter and grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. Finally, season with salt and black pepper to your taste before serving.
Notes
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the saltiness of the dish.
- For extra zest, add a little more lemon zest or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving.
- Make sure to stir occasionally while cooking the pasta to prevent it from sticking to the skillet.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute penne pasta with gluten-free pasta.
