Description
Succulent lemon garlic butter chicken parmesan linguine delivers Italian-inspired comfort with zesty Mediterranean flair. Creamy pasta embraces tender chicken, melding rich flavors that promise a delightful culinary escape you’ll savor to the last delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Seasonings:
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Cooking Ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons (74 milliliters) butter, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 8 ounces (226 grams) linguine pasta
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted pot of water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge linguine, cooking until perfectly tender with a slight bite, approximately 9-11 minutes. Extract 1/2 cup of starchy liquid before draining pasta, then set aside.
- Create a robust seasoning blend for chicken using salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian herbs. Thoroughly coat chicken pieces, ensuring even distribution of spices.
- Heat butter in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Carefully arrange chicken pieces without overcrowding, allowing golden caramelization. Rotate occasionally, cooking 4-5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165F. Transfer perfectly cooked chicken to a separate plate.
- Reduce skillet heat and introduce remaining butter. Incorporate minced garlic, sautéing briefly until aromatic but not darkened. Integrate lemon zest and juice, deglazing pan and capturing caramelized remnants.
- Reintroduce chicken into lemon garlic butter sauce, gently tossing to ensure comprehensive coating. Maintain warmth on low heat.
- Simultaneously, craft Parmesan sauce by melting butter in a separate pan. Pour heavy cream, bringing to a delicate simmer without boiling. Gradually whisk Parmesan until silky smooth, seasoning with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Merge linguine with Parmesan sauce, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Adjust consistency using reserved pasta water, allowing starch to enhance sauce adhesion.
- Plate creamy linguine, crowning with lemon garlic chicken. Embellish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Use high-quality chicken breasts for tender, juicy results that melt in your mouth and ensure even cooking.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help spices adhere better and create a gorgeous golden-brown exterior.
- Reserve pasta water is crucial for creating silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats every pasta strand.
- Avoid overcrowding the skillet when cooking chicken to prevent steaming and achieve beautiful caramelization.
- Toast garlic briefly to release aromatic flavors without burning, which can make the sauce bitter.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for superior melting and richer flavor compared to pre-packaged cheese.
- Adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water for ideal creamy texture without being too thick or thin.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg