This Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken is a delightfully creamy and light dish, making it the perfect choice for a busy weeknight meal.

Indulge in Zesty Creaminess: The Best Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken

Are you searching for an easy, flavorful, and satisfying dinner that comes together quickly? Look no further than this incredible Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken. It’s a true culinary gem, offering a perfect balance of rich creaminess and vibrant lemon zest, all combined with tender, savory chicken and perfectly cooked pasta. This recipe became an instant favorite, especially as a brilliant way to repurpose Lemon Garlic Chicken leftovers, transforming them into a whole new, irresistible meal. The original inspiration struck at just the right moment while browsing Clouse Cousins Cookin’, and I quickly adapted it to create a hearty, family-sized portion that everyone raves about.

Why This Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta Will Become Your New Go-To

What makes this Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken so exceptional? It’s the harmonious blend of flavors and textures, coupled with a surprisingly simple cooking process. The creaminess is luxurious yet remarkably light, preventing that heavy, overly full feeling often associated with rich pasta dishes. The lemon garlic chicken, whether freshly made or from leftovers, imparts a profound depth of flavor that marries beautifully with the al dente pasta and the bright, tangy cream sauce. Every forkful offers a delightful chewiness from the pasta, a tender bite of chicken, and a burst of zesty, savory goodness.

One of the aspects I particularly adore about this recipe is its ingenious method of cooking the pasta directly in the core flavors of the dish. Instead of boiling the pasta separately in plain water, we cook it in a savory bath of chicken broth and fresh lemon juice. This technique allows the pasta to absorb these incredible flavors from the inside out, resulting in a dish where every strand is infused with deliciousness, rather than just being coated by the sauce. It eliminates an extra pot, simplifies the cooking process, and deepens the overall taste profile, making it a true “one-pot” wonder in spirit, if not entirely in execution.

After the first try, I knew this Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken would be a regular feature on our dinner table. I initially doubled the recipe to ensure enough for our family, and after a few minor tweaks to perfect the balance of ingredients, I’m thrilled to share my adapted version below. Get ready to add this fantastic meal to your weekly rotation!

Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken

Yield: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

User Rating: 4.72 stars (14 ratings)

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Ingredients

• 3 cups Lemon Garlic Chicken, shredded or cubed (can substitute with leftover rotisserie chicken or pan-seared chicken breast)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 4 cans (14.5-ounces each) chicken broth (approximately 5.8 cups or 1.4 liters)
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2-3 lemons)
• 1 (16-ounce) package tube pasta (such as rigatoni, penne, or ziti)
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (from about 1-2 lemons)
• ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded, plus extra for serving

Instructions

1. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, combine the chicken broth with the garlic powder and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat slightly and add the fresh lemon juice and your chosen tube pasta. Ensure the pasta is mostly submerged in the liquid.
2. Cook the pasta over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Continue to cook until all the liquid has been absorbed by the pasta, which typically takes about 25 minutes. The pasta should be tender and al dente, and the sauce will have thickened considerably, clinging to the pasta.
3. Once the liquid is absorbed, stir in the shredded or cubed Lemon Garlic Chicken, heavy cream, grated parmesan cheese, and lemon zest. Cook over low heat for another 5 minutes, stirring gently until the sauce is heated through and slightly thickened to a luxurious consistency. The cheese should be fully melted, and the zest will infuse the sauce with its bright aroma.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the pasta stand for 5 minutes. This brief resting period allows the flavors to meld further and the sauce to set slightly. Before serving, give the pasta a thorough stir to redistribute the sauce and ingredients. Serve immediately with extra parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, if desired.

Author: Mel

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Method: Stovetop

Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):

• Serving: 1 Serving
• Calories: 725 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 62g
• Protein: 33g
• Fat: 38g
• Saturated Fat: 21g
• Cholesterol: 167mg
• Sodium: 1259mg
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 3g

Please note: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Recommended Products for Your Kitchen

To help you prepare this delicious Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken, here are some tools that make the process smoother:

Quality Cookware Set

Citrus Zester

Box Grater

Recipe Source: Adapted from allrecipes.com via Clouse Cousins Cookin’.

Tips for Making the Best Lemon Cream Chicken Pasta

• Choose Your Pasta Wisely: While tube pasta like rigatoni or penne is recommended for its ability to hold the creamy sauce, don’t hesitate to use other shapes like fettuccine or linguine if that’s what you have on hand. Just ensure it’s a type that can absorb the liquid during cooking.
• Fresh Lemon is Key: For the most vibrant flavor, always use fresh lemon juice and zest. Bottled lemon juice can sometimes have a metallic or less bright taste that won’t give you the same fantastic results. The zest is particularly important for that aromatic burst of lemon without making the dish overly tart.
• Don’t Skimp on the Stirring: When cooking the pasta in the broth, stir occasionally. This prevents the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan and ensures it cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid uniformly.
• Adjust Creaminess to Your Liking: If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can add a splash more chicken broth or even a little milk at the end. For a thicker sauce, let it simmer on low heat for an extra minute or two, stirring constantly, after adding the cream.
• Leftover Chicken Works Wonders: This recipe is fantastic for using up leftover chicken. Whether it’s the suggested Lemon Garlic Chicken, rotisserie chicken, or any plain cooked chicken breast, shredding or cubing it makes integration easy and delicious.

Variations to Customize Your Lemon Cream Pasta

This Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken is wonderfully adaptable. Feel free to get creative with these variations:

• Add Vegetables: Boost the nutrition and color by stirring in some fresh spinach during the last few minutes of cooking with the cream, or add frozen peas or chopped asparagus earlier with the pasta. Sautéed mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes would also be delicious additions.
• Spicier Kick: If you enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the garlic powder and black pepper.
• Herbal Freshness: While lemon zest provides a bright flavor, fresh herbs like chopped parsley, chives, or basil stirred in at the end can add another layer of aroma and taste.
• Make it Vegetarian: Omit the chicken and replace it with sautéed mushrooms, chickpeas, or white beans for a satisfying vegetarian version. You might want to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth in this case.
• Cheese Alternatives: While Parmesan is classic, a blend of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano can add a sharper, saltier kick.

Storage and Reheating

Leftovers of this Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken are just as delightful. Store any remaining pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, the pasta might absorb more of the sauce, making it a bit drier. To restore its creaminess, add a splash of chicken broth or milk (or even a little extra cream) when gently warming it on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave. Stir frequently until heated through and creamy again.