Description
Lemon one-pan pasta brings Italian simplicity to weeknight dinners with a zesty twist. Quick cooking and minimal cleanup make this dish a perfect solution for busy home cooks seeking delicious, hassle-free meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts
- ½ lb angel hair pasta
- ⅔ cup parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1–2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning or all-purpose chicken seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (to taste)
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Liquids and Fats:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup chicken stock
- ¾ cup chicken stock
- ¾ cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or Pinot Grigio)
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup half and half, room temperature
Instructions
- Generously coat chicken with seasoning on both surfaces, ensuring even coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Warm oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, carefully placing chicken to sear without disturbance for 3-4 minutes.
- Execute a single, precise flip, then introduce chicken stock, reducing heat to a gentle simmer and covering the pan for an additional 5 minutes.
- Carefully transfer chicken to a plate, loosely tenting with foil to retain warmth and moisture.
- Utilizing the same skillet, melt butter and introduce minced garlic, allowing it to become aromatic and fragrant for approximately one minute.
- Season the developing sauce with salt and pepper, creating a foundational flavor profile.
- Pour white wine into the skillet, allowing it to reduce and concentrate its essence for roughly two minutes.
- Incorporate chicken stock and fresh lemon juice, creating a vibrant liquid base.
- Gradually stream half and half into the mixture, bringing the sauce to a gentle, bubbling state.
- Carefully add pasta, breaking longer pieces if needed to ensure even cooking, and initiate simmering while stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat to low, continuing to simmer until pasta reaches perfect al dente texture.
- Incrementally fold in Parmesan cheese, reserving a portion for final garnish, observing the sauce’s thickening progression.
- Finish by sprinkling fresh parsley, bright lemon zest, and a touch of red pepper flakes for complexity.
- Thoroughly toss ingredients to distribute flavors evenly.
- Plate by arranging sliced chicken atop the pasta and crown with remaining Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Perfectly sear chicken by leaving it undisturbed for 3-4 minutes to develop a golden-brown crust that locks in juicy flavors.
- Create a silky sauce by reducing wine and stock, which concentrates the flavors and provides a rich base for the creamy pasta.
- Break pasta noodles in half to ensure even cooking and easier stirring in the one-pan method, helping achieve that ideal al dente texture.
- Use gentle heat when adding Parmesan to prevent sauce separation, allowing it to melt smoothly and create a luxurious, creamy consistency.
- Finish with bright garnishes like lemon zest and parsley to add freshness and lift the entire dish’s flavor profile.
- Rest chicken under foil to retain moisture and warmth, ensuring tender, succulent meat when served alongside the vibrant pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 745
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg