Lemon Chicken Pasta

This flavor-packed Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe combines lightly breaded lemon-pepper chicken breasts, pan-fried in a bit of olive oil, with spaghetti noodles in a creamy lemon sauce with Parmesan Cheese, sweet peas, and chopped fresh parsley.

This chicken pasta recipe is the perfect blend of tangy and savory flavors. With tender chicken and al dente pasta, it’s a dish that will have your taste buds singing. Make it for a cozy dinner at home, or impress your guests at a dinner party! This pasta is easy enough for a weeknight meal yet elegant enough for company.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.

• Chicken: Cut 2 large chicken breasts in half lengthwise or purchase 4 chicken cutlets.
• Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan. It is so flavorful and worth every penny.
• Lemon pepper: Lemon Pepper is a seasoning made from granulated or dried lemon zest. The lemon zest is combined with fresh-cracked black pepper and, sometimes, spices. The oils from the lemon zest are infused into the spices and then baked and dried. Use good-quality lemon pepper, preferably from a spice shop, if possible.
• Olive oil: Use extra virgin, preferably cold-pressed.
• Pasta: You can substitute fettucine, rigatoni, rotini, penne, mostaccioli, elbows, cavatappi, or angel hair pasta for the spaghetti.
• Heavy cream: You can substitute whipping cream.
• Chicken broth: Use low-sodium.
• Lemons: For juicing and zesting.
• Butter: Unsalted or salted

How To Make Lemon Chicken Pasta

This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.

1. Whisk the flour, Parmesan cheese, and lemon pepper in a shallow bowl.
2. Dredge the chicken through it and fry it up in a little olive oil over medium heat.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta al dente and drain well.
4. Carefully, wipe the skillet clean. Cook the garlic over low heat.
5. Simmer the heavy cream and chicken broth for a few minutes.
6. Add the peas, lemon zest and lemon juice and simmer until reduced.
7. Reduce the heat as low as it will go and stir in the remaining Parmesan cheese a little at a time until melted. Stir in the butter and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss it with the pasta.

Preparation Tips

• Reducing cream takes a little knowledge and patience. Simmer the cream with small, fine bubbles on the edges of the skillet and stir it frequently. You do not want to boil it hard. Low and slow is the key. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice in small increments, letting the cream reduce while you work on other steps in the recipe.
• Add the frozen peas to the sauce. They will take mere minutes to cook as the peas are blanched before freezing.
• Reserve ½ cup of pasta water. Add a little pasta water, chicken broth, cream, or milk if the sauce or pasta becomes too thick. Do so in small increments so you do not add too much.
• Do not slice the chicken until the dish is ready; it will dry out.

What To Serve With Lemon Chicken Pasta

• Salad: garden salad, Italian salad with homemade salad dressing, or arugula salad
• Vegetables: oven-roasted asparagus, spinach casserole, or roasted cauliflower
• Bread or rolls: angel biscuits or cheddar bay biscuits

More Pasta Recipes

Lemon Chicken Pasta

Lemon Chicken Pasta is loaded with lightly breaded lemon pepper seasoned chicken breasts, lemon cream sauce with Parmesan cheese, and sweet peas.

5 from 28 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: main meal chicken

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 916kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 12 ounces spaghetti pasta
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1¼ cups heavy cream
• ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
• ⅔ cup frozen peas
• 1 lemon zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons butter cut in small cubes
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped Italian parsley
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Combine the flour, ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese, and lemon pepper in a shallow bowl. Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until it is golden brown on both sides and cooked through; 3-4 minutes each side. Plate the chicken and cover it with a loose aluminum foil tent. 
• Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Do not overcook and drain well.
• Wipe the skillet fairly clean and heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Add the heavy cream and bring it to a simmer. Add the chicken broth a little at a time while the cream reduces.
• Add the peas, lemon zest, and lemon juice and continue simmering until the mixture is reduced by about ⅓. Reduce the heat as low as it will go and stir in ½ cup Parmesan Cheese in small increments stirring until it is melted.
• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce; tossing to coat. Add the butter stirring until melted and incorporated.  Stir in the fresh parsley and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Slice the chicken and add it to the pasta. For best results serve promptly.

Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at 50% power, stirring several times.
• Freeze in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in the microwave at reduced power.

Nutrition

Calories: 916kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 449mg | Potassium: 652mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1797IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 320mg | Iron: 3mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @smalltownwomanfoodnut or tag #smalltownwomanfoodnut!

Are you on the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.