I’ve been making this for about three years now and I really have no recollection of where I got the recipe. It’s good and it’s quick, and you just might have most of the ingredients on hand. It checks all the boxes!

I have seen people add veggies to this dish. Most often it’s peas, but sometimes zucchini or broccoli. I haven’t tried it. I prefer to serve whatever veggie I’m offering on the side.

I found a similar recipe at Pumpkin n’ Spice, which is where this photo is from 🙂

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta

For this recipe use leftover cooked chicken, or saute approximately 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders in a bit of olive oil and butter—about 1 T. of each—for a few minutes on each side. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and any other favorite herbs, cool for about 5 minutes, and then coarsely chop into cubes. Use as directed below.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. Penne Pasta OR any kind of pasta
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 4 strips of peel from one lemon, plus the juice from the one lemon—2-3 Tbl.
• 1 cup chicken broth OR 1/3 cup white wine plus 2/3 cup reserved pasta water)
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1½ to 2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped parsley to sprinkle on top, if desired

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the pasta in salted, boiling water according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, sauté chicken as directed above. Let cool, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. In another small pan, heat 1/3 cup whipping cream with the four pieces of long lemon peel. Simmer for about 1 minute, then remove and discard the lemon peel. Set the lemon infused cream aside.
4. In the pan used to cook the chicken OR in a fresh, clean frying pan, if you are using leftover cooked chicken, combine the chicken broth OR wine and pasta water, lemon juice, peas, and cooked chicken. Simmer for two minutes then stir in drained/cooked pasta, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese.
5. Stir to combine. Add more salt and pepper, if needed, and serve. Makes 4 generous servings.

Thanks for stopping by for dinner tonight!