Description
Creamy lemon parmesan one-pan pasta blends Italian simplicity with zesty flavors. Home cooks can savor this quick, elegant meal that combines fresh ingredients and minimal cleanup for a satisfying dinner experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts, pounded to an even ¼ inch (0.64 cm) thick
- 1–2 tbsps Cajun seasoning or all-purpose chicken seasoning
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ lb (227 g) angel hair pasta
- 4 tbsps butter
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- ¾ cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or Pinot Grigio)
- ¾ cup chicken stock
- 1 cup half and half, room temperature
- ⅔ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
- 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Thoroughly coat chicken breasts with selected seasoning, ensuring complete and even coverage on both surfaces.
- Searing Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature, carefully place seasoned chicken, and cook undisturbed until a rich golden-brown crust forms (3-4 minutes).
- Moisture Infusion: Flip chicken, introduce chicken stock, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes until perfectly cooked. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil to maintain warmth.
- Sauce Foundation: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Season with salt and black pepper, then deglaze with white wine, allowing it to reduce and concentrate flavors.
- Liquid Integration: Pour chicken stock and lemon juice into the skillet, gradually blend in half and half, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add pasta, breaking into smaller pieces if necessary, and cook while stirring consistently.
- Pasta Completion: Reduce heat, continue cooking until pasta reaches ideal al dente texture. Gradually incorporate Parmesan cheese to naturally thicken the sauce.
- Final Embellishment: Sprinkle chopped parsley, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Toss ingredients thoroughly, plate with sliced chicken, and garnish with remaining Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro: Thoroughly season chicken to ensure deep, rich flavor penetration in every bite.
- Timing is Key: Watch for golden-brown crust development when searing chicken, which signals perfect caramelization and locks in juiciness.
- Sauce Secrets: Gradually add half and half to prevent curdling and achieve silky, smooth sauce consistency.
- Cheese Wisdom: Reserve some Parmesan for final garnish to maintain textural contrast and enhance visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg