Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta

Here’s a full, flavorful recipe for Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta—perfect for a hearty dinner! 🍋🧄🧈

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Ingredients (Serves 4)

For the Chicken:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika (optional, for color)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh thyme

For the Creamy Parmesan Pasta:

• 250g (8–9 oz) pasta (fettuccine, penne, or your choice)
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

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Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta

1. Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
2. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.

2. Cook the Chicken

1. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Sear chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
4. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

3. Make Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

1. In the same skillet, melt 3 tbsp butter.
2. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
4. Add thyme and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly reduced.
5. Return chicken to the skillet and coat with the sauce.

4. Prepare Creamy Parmesan Pasta

1. In a separate pan, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
3. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
5. Add cooked pasta, tossing to coat. Use reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
6. Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with parsley.

5. Serve

• Plate the creamy pasta and top with the lemon garlic butter chicken.
• Spoon extra pan sauce over the chicken for maximum flavor.

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💡 Tips & Variations:

• Add spinach or peas to the pasta for extra color and nutrients.
• Use zest of 1 lemon in the sauce for a brighter citrus flavor.
• For a lighter version, substitute half the heavy cream with milk or Greek yogurt (add at low heat to prevent curdling).

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If you want, I can also give a one-pan shortcut version of this dish that cooks chicken and pasta together—super fast and almost zero cleanup.

Do you want me to do that?