Turn leftover chicken into an easy elegant supper with a lemon and some linguine with this easy recipe for lemon chicken pasta. It’s so simple to make, and has a bright and cheery lemon flavor that will have them begging for another serving!
There are a few recipes in my collection that are near and dear to my heart not only because they taste so dang good, but because they remind me of wonderful times. My mama’s cream scones. My grandmother’s molasses cookies. My baby girl’s favorite banana muffins. The back of the Nestle’s chocolate chip bag recipe for chocolate chip cookies that my friend Lynne and I have been making since we were nine years old. And this lemony, buttery, easy lemon chicken pasta recipe.
I’ve made this about a million times over the years because it is so easy and delicious, but the time I loved best was on a winter weekend many moons ago up in Vermont with two of our best friends. We all went up to my favorite place in the world, aka the Vermont Cabin. It was February, and it was Vermont, so there was snow. Lots of snow.
The Southern daughter was about five years old at the time, and like five year olds everywhere, she thought hurtling down the hill on her sled was pretty much the best thing she had ever done in her life.
Look at those cheeks! I miss those cheeks. They are off at college now. (How did that happen??)
Anyway, going out to dinner up in my beloved part of Vermont requires a good half hour to 45 minutes in the car, and the cabin has a lovely, cozy kitchen, so one night we decided to cook in. There’s Janet cooking, and the Southern daughter setting the table, and me looking all bossy. I have no idea what that’s about.
And since we were all tuckered out from our snowy day, we wanted something easy as well as delicious, and yep, you guessed it. Lemon Chicken Pasta! A little cooked and shredded chicken, some lemons, some pasta, a handful of herbs, some butter and we were on our way. A little while later we were eating and laughing around that table up there, and even though it was lo these many years ago, every time I make lemon chicken pasta it zaps me right back to a snowy weekend with best friends.
So from me to you, here’s one of my favorites for you to share with good people you love!
Wheeeeee!
Lemon Chicken Pasta
Prep Time: 20 minutes- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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Pin RecipeIngredients
- 8 ounces linguine
- 1/2 stick butter
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus extra for garnish
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- Thin lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta in heavily salted water until done. Reserve one cup pasta water and drain.
- Meantime, heat butter in large skillet over medium heat until melted. Add chicken and stir for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
- Stir in herbs and lemon juice.
- Add pasta and cheese to chicken mixture and toss. Add just enough pasta water to form a light sauce.
- Divide among plates, garnish with extra herbs, cheese and lemon slices and serve.
This looks amazing! The lemon looks so fresh and tasty. Special story of good times!!! xoxo
Thanks Robyn! There’s nothing like good food and good friends, right?
I’ve always loved the lemony buttery sauce that comes with chicken picatta but now that I don’t eat the meat part of it, that sauce hasn’t really appeared in my life in FOREVER. I need it…in the form of pasta sauce.
You DO! I’m guessing it is just as heavenly on plain pasta. :)
What a pretty photo. Lemon chicken is one of my favorite recipes. Looks like I’m going to need to try it in pasta form now. :)
Thank you! And everything is always better with pasta. Or bacon. That’s my motto.
Looks delicious. And I concur on the Nestles chocolate cookie recipe. All the recipes we try, we still always go back to the original.
I love the classic “back of the package” recipes – why mess with success? :)
Such a great photo of the dish I can taste it :) looks absolutely delicious!
Aw, thanks! That is one of my all-time favorite plates!
I made this last night and it was a huge hit!! A nice change up from our normal plain spaghetti and parm. Love the lemony flavor.
It’s a fun way to shake things up, right? And lemons always taste like spring to me. :)
I just roasted a chicken and this will be a great dish for some leftovers! So simple and yummy, but mine will of course have a bunch of garlic added to the butter and lemon. ;)
Thanks, Kate!
Well, you can’t ever go wrong with garlic! :)
This was so good, my 4 yr old asked to have it again tonight (we just had it last night)! Thanks for sharing! It was so easy to make, too!
I forgot to mention, I added some capers too. It was a really nice addition.
Capers are a great idea! Glad you liked this one so much – anything that passes the 4 year old’s test we KNOW is good! :)
I made this tonight for dinner, and it was perfect. Thanks for sharing such a nice, comforting recipe!
I’m so glad to hear! And my pleasure. :)
Had a roast chicken in the fridge and was looking for something fun to use it in…so I just whipped some of this up! My 10yo helped and she loved the results. It was quick and easy! I also added leftover steamed broccoli and it went really well with the buttery/lemony sauce. Thanks for this one!!
My pleasure! There’s nothing more delicious than family cooking, I always think. :)
Just came across this on Pinterest–looks delicious! I am a sucker for anything with lemon in it.
Me too! Hope you love it. :)
Looks Yummy and Simple, my favorite kind of meals!
Mine too! :)
if one does not have access to fresh herbs, what would be the dried equivalent measurement be?
I think a good tablespoon of each should be just about right.
I love the idea of Lemon Chicken Pasta! I also love all your stories..and this one was espicially charming! Boy how I know certain foods bring on Flashbacks of the past! I will be trying this soon! Thank you again for all your wonderful recipes…Catherine
My pleasure! And yes, there’s nothing like the memories of meals shared with friends — delicious in so many ways!
another good name for this would be “chicken piccata pasta” or “piccata pasta” for those who are vegetarian and good for meatless mondays
This recipe looks great, our household is just getting over a cold and I’m the only one not working today so I’m on dinner duty despite still feeling congested. Needless to say I looked for something that was easy but also that we would still enjoy (last night was pizza night)! I really like your recipe because it creates something of a sauce instead of just squeezing lemon juice over a piece of chicken.
And I love the nostalgia that comes with your recipe! It’s very similar to my memory of going swimming every summer day when I was in 4th or 5th grade, and my friend’s mom who watched us while my mom was working would alway makes tuna sandwiches & sweet tea. Anytime I go swimming now I always want a tuna sandwich!
Favorite meals make for wonderful memories, don’t they? Hope you love the lemon chicken, and here’s also hoping everyone in your family gets well soon…summer colds are No Fun!
Not clear as to how the drained pasta is not a sticky clump by the time you cook the chicken.
The chicken you are working with is already cooked, so by the time the pasta is cooked and drained the butter and chicken and lemon will all be heated, and you can pop the drained pasta in there right away. No clumping! :)
Made exactly as listed. Had a bit of a bitter taste from the lemon juice. Added some garlic infused olive oil and limoncello to add a sweeter lemon flavor and that helped, but will probably not make again. Also don’t understand why people comment on recipes who have not made it. Not very helpful for those of us wanting to know if it tasted good to those who have actually tried it.
★★
Hey Laura! I really appreciate your candid review, and that you took the time to leave this comment. You are right that this is DEFINITELY a lemony one. :) I thought maybe you might be interested in one of our other family chicken pasta favorites, which is this chicken pasta carbonara – link below. Meantime, happy Sunday and have a great week!
https://www.framedcooks.com/2013/12/chicken-pasta-carbonara.html
Very good & love how simple it is.
★★★★★
Thanks Flora! It’s one of our faves. :)
This was easy and the whole family loved it! Very fast, my husband said it should “be a staple.”
★★★★
I love that it is going to be a staple! It’s one of our very faves. :)
This is one of my picky eaters favorites, so I make it often. Thank you for sharing.
I was wondering if it could be frozen and reheated successfully? I have a friend that just had a baby and I’m trying to make her some meals that her other kids will enjoy also, to make life a little easier. Just wondering if I could do that with this pasta??
Thanks so much!
Well, I just love being a picky eater favorite (having raised/lived with a picky eater myself!). I see no reason why this wouldn’t freeze just fine – they should just thaw thoroughly and then re-heat in a skillet with a little chicken broth to loosen it up. :)
This recipe has become a favorite of mine! I’ve made it several times and I’m obsessed. It tastes incredible and is so simple and easy to make.
★★★★★
Thank you! Isn’t it the best when you land on a recipe that you know is going to work out every time? I’m so glad this is one of those recipes for you. Happy Wednesday!!
Superb Saturday night dish, sided by Chardonnay! Not heavy, rather it comes across as elegant. Had to wing it on the herbs, replaced the chives with green onion tips, used dry parsley and thyme. We cleaned the pan, that’s a fact!
★★★★★
Hurray! I love your herb substitutions, and I’m so happy to hear that you had a delicious Saturday night! :)
Very bland!!
★
Hi Gwyn! I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you, but I’m glad that you tried it! :)
My son and my self made, and enjoyed this wonderful meal tonite (on 26 April 2020). Again, we enjoyed it, and plan on doing it again.
★★★★
I’m so glad you liked it! It’s one of our family favorites. :)
I’ve made this so many times over the years. It’s one of my favorites not just because it’s delicious but also it’s so simple.
★★★★★
Amy! You made my day – I’m so happy to hear this! :)