Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta is an easy 30-minute pasta dinner! The creamy, garlicky, lemony cream sauce is restaurant-worthy yet easy enough for busy weeknights.
Delicious pasta recipes are always a go-to in our home, and this lemon chicken pasta recipe is loaded with flavor and ready in no time—perfect for busy weeknights.
If you're looking for a lemon pasta with simple ingredients and bold flavor, this one’s sure to become a family favorite—even the picky eaters will love it! With juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts, al dente penne, and a rich yet refreshing creamy lemon sauce, it’s like a lighter, citrusy twist on classic alfredo.
The bright lemon juice cuts through the richness of the heavy cream and parmesan, creating a perfectly balanced, comforting dish that’s been on repeat in my dinner rotation. Bursting with fresh lemon flavor, it’s simple, satisfying, yet makes it feel lighter than most creamy pasta dishes.
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♡ What you’ll love about this recipe:
✔️ Big on Flavor – The creamy lemon sauce is rich, zesty, and comforting—like a burst of sunshine in every bite.
✔️ Quick & Easy – Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a satisfying meal fast.
✔️ Light Yet Indulgent – It feels creamy and cozy like Alfredo, but the bright lemon makes it feel lighter and more refreshing.
✔️ Totally Customizable – Swap in your favorite pasta shape or use any cut of chicken you have on hand.
Ingredients in Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Chicken - My go-to protein for pasta is usually chicken. I use two boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks. You can also substitute with boneless thighs —especially if you prefer darker meat.
- Stock - I use 33% reduced-sodium chicken stock to better control the salt level in the dish. If you're using regular or no-sodium stock, be sure to taste and adjust the added salt accordingly.
- Pasta - Penne is my go-to for this recipe because its shape holds the creamy lemon sauce well. However, feel free to use other pasta shapes like linguine, fettuccine, bow tie (farfalle), spaghetti, fusilli, or ziti.
- Heavy Cream - It's what makes the lemon sauce creamy and a luxurious consistency. If you’re looking to making it lighter, you can substitute with half-and-half.
- Lemon - Both freshly squeezed lemon juice and finely grated zest balance the richness of the cream. Avoid bottled lemon juice—it lacks the fresh, vibrant citrus punch and can taste flat or overly acidic.
- Garlic - It gives the chicken pasta a rich, garlicky depth of flavor. For the best taste, use fresh minced garlic instead of pre-chopped or jarred varieties.
- Parmesan - Freshly grated parmesan adds a rich, savory umami boost to the dish. As I mentioned in my parmesan cheese recipes, pre-shredded or powdered versions often contain anti-caking agents that affect melting and lack the bold, nutty flavor.
👉 Use chicken cutlets - For a prettier presentation, you can butterfly the chicken breasts to create cutlets, sear them, then slice before adding them back to the pan with the stock and heavy cream.
How to make
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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Tips for Success
Cream: Use heavy cream or half & half for richness. Avoid milk—it thins the sauce too much.
Chicken: Use boneless, skinless breasts, thighs, or tenderloins.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cook the protein in a single layer for a golden crust. Overcrowding causes steaming—cook in batches if needed.
Protein Swap: Shrimp or other proteins work well as alternatives to chicken.
Use Fresh Lemons: Fresh lemon is key for bright flavor.
Lemon Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta cooked
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 to 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
- ½ to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup chicken stock I used 33% reduced sodium
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ to 1 teaspoon salt divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper divided
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter optional
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 to 2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente and drain. I like to prepare the rest of the dish while the pasta cooks, so everything comes together in under 30 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss chicken with some salt and pepper and then add in a single layer, cook until it develops a golden color on one side, about 3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium, add chopped onion, garlic and red pepper flakes, Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the stock, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and remaining salt and pepper.
- Increase the heat slightly and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the sauce gently boils and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 3 to 5 minutes).
- Stir in parmesan, butter, lemon juice and zest and immediately remove pan from heat. Check for seasoning and add adjust if necessary.
- Serve the pasta after 5 to 10 minutes, as the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Variations
This creamy garlic lemon pasta dish is easy to customize. Try these tasty add-ins and swaps:
- Broccoli – Blanch with the penne for a couple of minutes, or sauté in olive oil before adding.
- Peas – Stir in frozen peas along with the stock and cream.
- Spinach – Add baby spinach towards the end and stir until just wilted.
- Zucchini – Sauté diced zucchini until slightly tender, set aside, then add back to the sauce before serving.
- Asparagus – Sauté 1-inch pieces with the onion and garlic for extra flavor.
- Meat-Free Option – Skip the chicken, but still use chicken stock for added depth.
- Rotisserie Chicken – A great shortcut—just shred and stir in!
- Shrimp – Swap the chicken for shrimp for a delicious seafood lemon garlic pasta.
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta is a bright and comforting meal featuring juicy chicken breasts, al dente pasta, and a smooth, lemon cream sauce. Made with simple pantry staples, this pasta dish packs a punch of flavor in every forkful.
More creamy chicken pasta dishes
If you love comforting, flavorful chicken pasta recipes, you’re in the right place. These creamy dishes are perfect for cozy nights in, quick weeknight dinners, or even casual entertaining.
- This chicken vodka pasta is a restaurant-quality penne alla vodka that's perfect for date nights, yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner.
- This spicy chicken pasta recipe is anything but bland! Toss your favorite noodles in a luscious creamy tomato sauce that is loaded with flavor.
- Easy chicken and mushroom pasta is a cozy, weeknight dinner that comes together in 30 minutes.
- Chicken broccoli alfredo is easily made in one pot and is on the table in under 30 minutes.
- This creamy chicken pesto pasta features penne pasta smothered in a buttery cream sauce infused with basil pesto, and juicy chicken.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Kitchen at Hoskins on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
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