Name: Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 5
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless skinless chicken legs and thighs, in cubes; ½ lb spaghetti noodles; 3 garlic cloves, smashed; 2 tsp lemon zest; 1 lemon, juiced; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 1 tsp Paprika; ¼ cup butter; ¼ cup olive oil; ¼ cup water; 1 tsp basil

I am not a pasta person, at all. I hardly ever crave pasta. I first made this recipe for a dinner I hosted. I found a recipe that I wanted to copy but didn’t have any of the ingredients so I tossed this together on a whim. It turned out PHENOMENAL. My guests still talk about this pasta dish until this day.

Prep Tips

I don’t like my food to be too garlicky. In typical recipes, you’ll see 5 cloves of garlic. Instead, I smash the garlic (place knife flat on top of the loaf and apply pressure. I cook these in the mix until the chicken is done and then remove them so I don’t accidentally bite into the garlic.

Also in other recipes you’ll see the lemon zest being added later on but I noticed that doing it with the butter and garlic brings out the flavors.

This would also taste delicious with shrimp and would be a lot quicker too!

AuthorNureen SCategoryMain Dishes, PastaDifficultyBeginner

Yields5 Servings

Prep Time5 minsCook Time15 minsTotal Time20 mins

1 lb boneless skinless chicken legs and thighs, in cubes

½ lb spaghetti noodles

3 garlic cloves, smashed

2 tsp lemon zest

1 lemon, juiced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp Paprika

¼ cup butter

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup water

1 tsp basil

Boil the spaghetti noodles and set aside

Pat dry chicken and season with salt, black pepper, and paprika

Melt butter in a pot.

Saute smashed garlic and lemon zest in the butter until it becomes fragrant

Toss in the chicken and cook until the chicken is tender, about 10 minutes.

Turn heat low and add in the noodles, olive oil, water and basil. Mix well.

Serve hot. Garnish with basil and freshly shaved parmesan.

Ingredients