This Creamy Lemon Chicken comes together in about 30 minutes and is made all in one pan for a easy weeknight meal that your family will love! Switch up the ingredients to suit your taste or use it as a “clean out the fridge” meal to get rid of leftovers and odds and ends! Seriously, who doesn’t love a good recipe that’s both delicious and minimizes cleanup? Let’s dive into this delightful dish that brings tons of flavor to your table in no time.
Ingredients Breakdown
Here’s What You’ll Need:
450 g boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, zest and juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
225 g spaghetti
250 ml heavy cream
Fresh parsley, chopped
Let’s Get Cooking!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Season the chicken : Start by seasoning your chicken with a couple of pinches of salt, pepper, and the lemon zest. You want to make sure each piece is nicely coated. You can absolutely do this step ahead of time if you want to marinate it for even more flavor!
Cook the chicken : In a large skillet, melt your butter and olive oil over medium heat. Once that delicious combo is sizzling, add your chicken. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until it’s golden brown on the outside. You want that beautiful color!
Remove chicken and set aside : It’s time to remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside. This keeps it juicy!
Cook the garlic : In that same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook it for about 1 minute. You want to get it fragrant but be careful not to burn it. If you do, it can taste kinda bitter… and nobody wants that!
Make the sauce : Now, pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese. Stir, stirring frequently, until the cheese is fully melted and the mixture has come to a simmer. You might need to bring down the heat a bit.
Cook the pasta : While the sauce is getting creamy, cook your spaghetti according to package instructions. Remember to reserve 1/2 cup of that starchy pasta water before draining!
Combine everything : Return the chicken to the skillet! Then, squeeze in the lemon juice and toss in the drained pasta. Toss all that together to combine, adding the reserved pasta water as needed to get that sauce to a silky consistency.
Serve and enjoy : Finally, serve your Quick and Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken topped with (drumroll, please) freshly chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. And wow, just wow enjoy every creamy, zesty bite!
Why I Love This Recipe
This recipe is my go-to recipe when I need a quick and easy dinner that’s still packed with tons of flavor. I’m a real sucker for anything creamy and lemony; it just brightens everything up, don’t you think? It’s comfort food made easy, and the best part is that you can adjust it to whatever you have on hand! Sometimes I throw in some spinach or maybe swap out the pasta for a grain I need to use up. It’s just such a versatile dish!
If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out my Baked Chicken Breasts, my Spicy Sweet and Sour Chicken, or my Best 19 Chicken Recipes!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This dish comes together in under 30 minutes perfect for those busy weeknights when you want something hearty but don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen for hours.
One-Pan Wonder
Minimal cleanup required! Everything is made in one pan, so you can focus on enjoying dinner rather than dealing with a pile of dishes. It’s a lifesaver after a hectic day!
Budget-Friendly
The ingredients are all affordable and easy to find! Plus, it keeps your grocery list short. Win-win!
Customizable
Use whatever ingredients you have! Don’t have spaghetti? Substitute with any pasta or use whatever vegetables you need to use up. Seriously, the combination possibilities are endless!
Comfort Food
Loaded with tons of flavor; this dish is sure to please even picky eaters. My kids ask for seconds, now that’s a compliment!
Serving and Storage
Serving Suggestions
This creamy lemon chicken pairs beautifully with a light salad, some warm crusty bread, or even a side of steamed veggies. You could also serve it over a bed of fresh spinach for a lighter take!
Storage
Leftover chicken will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days! Just pop it in an airtight container, and you’re good to go.
Reheating Instructions
Gently reheat the chicken in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of water or cream to loosen up the sauce, and you’ll be good as new!
Freezer Friendly
While I wouldn’t recommend freezing the cooked pasta, you can freeze the cooked chicken and sauce (without pasta) for about 2-3 months. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat when you’re ready!
This Creamy Lemon Chicken is everything you need for a wonderfully simple family meal. Whether it’s a hectic weeknight or a cozy weekend dinner, this dish will deliver comfort and flavor every time. Happy cooking! Follow us on Pinterest for daily meal inspiration!
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Creamy Lemon Chicken
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Paleo
Description
A creamy and zesty chicken dish that comes together in about 30 minutes, perfect for a weeknight dinner your family will love.
Ingredients
- 450 g boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 225 g spaghetti
- 250 ml heavy cream
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and lemon zest.
- Cook the chicken in melted butter and olive oil over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the minced garlic in the same skillet for about 1 minute.
- Make the sauce by adding heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and simmering.
- Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Combine the chicken, lemon juice, and drained pasta into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Serve topped with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
Notes
This dish can be customized with any pasta or vegetables on hand. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
