🍋🧄 Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Creamy Parmesan Pasta
Servings: 4 | Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 25 mins | Total: ~40 mins
🧾 Ingredients
For the Chicken:
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2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved horizontally (4 thin cutlets)
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1 tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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1 tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp paprika
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2 tbsp olive oil
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2 tbsp butter
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Juice of ½ lemon (plus slices for garnish, optional)
For the Pasta:
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8 oz fettuccine or linguine
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2 tbsp butter
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 cup heavy cream
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½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (plus more for serving)
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1 tsp lemon zest
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Juice of ½ lemon (or more to taste)
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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Optional: Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
🍳 Instructions
🔪 1. Prepare the Chicken
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Season the chicken cutlets with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika on both sides.
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Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Add chicken and cook for about 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
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Squeeze lemon juice over the chicken in the final minute. Remove and set aside. (Tent with foil to keep warm.)
🍝 2. Cook the Pasta
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Boil a pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
🧄 3. Make the Creamy Parmesan Sauce
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In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Melt 2 tbsp butter, then sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
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Add heavy cream and stir well, scraping up the browned bits.
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Add Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir until smooth.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Add the drained pasta and toss to coat. If needed, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce.
🍽️ 4. Serve
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Slice the cooked chicken and serve over the creamy lemon-Parmesan pasta.
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Garnish with more Parmesan, fresh parsley, and lemon slices.
🔁 Optional Add-Ins:
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Spinach or peas – stir in during the last 2 mins of cooking the sauce.
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Red pepper flakes – for heat.
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Mushrooms – sauté before the garlic.
💡 Pro Tip:
To elevate the flavor, deglaze the pan with a splash of white wine after cooking the chicken and before adding cream.
Want a printable version or a dairy-free twist?