Description
Bright, zesty, and rich, this Lemon Garlic Chicken with Creamy Bowtie Pasta combines tender chicken bites with farfalle pasta coated in a velvety parmesan cream sauce. It’s a comforting yet vibrant dish perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs chicken breast or thighs
12 oz bowtie pasta (farfalle)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Marinate with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Let it rest for 15 minutes or overnight.
2. Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
3. Heat a skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken until golden and fully cooked, about 4–6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant. Add cream, whisk gently, and stir in parmesan. Add pasta water to loosen sauce.
5. Add cooked pasta and chicken back to the pan. Stir in lemon zest, parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Mix gently until heated through.
Notes
For deeper flavor, sear chicken in batches to avoid steaming.
Fresh lemon zest is key—don’t skip it; it elevates the whole dish.
Add a splash more cream or pasta water when reheating to revive the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: Lemon garlic chicken, bowtie pasta, creamy chicken pasta