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Using rotisserie or leftover chicken makes this easy creamy lemon chicken pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknights! It comes together quickly with no fancy ingredients.
Love lemony sauces? You may also like my Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta or Lemon Chicken Gnocchi.
Why you’ll love it
Another 30-minute pasta coming ‘atcha that’s simple enough for everyday but makes an elegant dish for company! Lemon and chicken are the perfect match and one of those timeless combos. Add in some carbs in the form of pasta, and I’m one happy gal.
I’m a big fan of adding lemon to cream sauces to brighten them up like in this lemon chicken pasta recipe. Our kitchen can’t resist the parmesan cream sauce, but if you prefer a similar recipe without cream, head on over to my Lemon Chicken Pasta instead.
What you’ll need
- Pasta – I use spaghetti, but any shape works
- Butter and flour – to make a quick roux
- Garlic – if you’re a garlic lover, feel free to add even more! This garlic press makes it effortless to mince. You don’t even have to peel the cloves.
- Chicken broth – to make the sauce richer. Veggie broth works just fine as well.
- Lemon – we’re using both fresh lemon juice and the zest for all-out bright flavor
- Heavy cream – for making the sauce luxurious
- Chicken – pick up a rotisserie chicken or use up any leftover Roast Chicken you may have on hand
- Parmesan cheese – I use my Microplane to grate the parm (and zest the lemon). I always keep a wedge of parmesan in my fridge since it tastes so much better when you grate it yourself and melts easier.
How to make creamy lemon chicken pasta
This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Start by boiling a salted pot of water for the pasta. When it’s about 10 minutes away from being done, add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat and then add the flour once it’s melted to make a quick roux.
- Stir in the garlic, followed by the chicken/veg broth (or use dry white wine), and the lemon juice and zest. Let it bubble for about a minute until it’s reduced a fair bit.
- Add in the cream and cooked chicken, and let it simmer for a few minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce thickens. Stir in the parmesan, and season with salt & pepper as needed. Toss with the drained pasta, and give it an additional dusting of cheese if desired.
Substitutions and variations
- I don’t recommend subbing the cream for a lower fat alternative (e.g. half-and-half of milk) because the acidity of the lemon juice may curdle it, and the sauce won’t taste as good or have the right texture.
- Want to make this extra elegant? Use a dry white wine like pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, or chardonnay in place of the chicken broth.
- Feel free to throw in some spinach or frozen peas towards the end of the cooking time if you’d like to sneak in some greens.
What to serve with lemon chicken pasta
- It’s great with a big slice of Homemade Garlic Bread, a dinner roll, or fresh crusty bread like a French baguette.
- I also enjoy pairing it with a side salad with my Easy Italian Dressing or Creamy Balsamic Dressing.
Leftovers and storage
- Leftovers will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Reheat any leftovers very slowly on a low heat in a small saucepan since cream sauces can easily separate. Give it a splash of extra cream to revive the sauce if needed.
- I don’t recommend freezing leftovers of this chicken pasta. Creamy pasta sauces generally won’t hold up after thawing.
More chicken pasta recipes
Questions about this quick and easy chicken pasta? Talk to me in the comments below! Liked this recipe? Write me a review below or share it with a friend. 🙂
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 tablespoon flour
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth/veg broth or dry white wine
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice + zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 2 cups cooked/rotisserie chicken shredded
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Garnish: fresh parsley & extra parm optional
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
- When the pasta is approx. 10 minutes away from being done, add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it melts, sprinkle the flour in and cook for about a minute, stirring fairly often.
- Add in the garlic, followed by the broth (or wine) and lemon juice + zest. Let it bubble for one minute.
- Whisk in the cream, then stir in the chicken, and cook it for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened up to your liking.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and take the skillet off the heat. Season with salt & pepper as needed (I am generous with both).
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until coated (add a tablespoon or so of the pasta water to the sauce prior to draining it, especially if the sauce has become a little too thick). Serve immediately with more parmesan and a bit of chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- I do NOT recommend subbing the heavy cream for anything with a lower fat content (e.g. half-and-half or milk) because the lemon in the sauce is very likely to curdle it, and you’ll have to add more flour to thicken the sauce.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Yum yum yum! I added a little extra of each ingredient to stretch the recipe out a bit because and I had more than a cup of heavy cream and it was a big hit at the dinner table. My husband ate in silence just shoveling it in for the first couple minutes. Will make this again for sure. Thanks Natasha.
You’re very welcome, Rachel!
We have made the lemon pasta several times and finally did the chicken version tonight. It’s like an elevated Alfredo, and SO good.
Yay!! I’m thrilled to hear it, Victoria! Thanks!
I have made this multiple times and it’s always a real hit. I do use white wine (pinot grigio) and much more lemon juice and rind as we love the lemony taste. We recently returned from Italy where we were first served lemon pasta and I fell in love with the taste and my husband says this recipe was even better. I’m fixing it again for 12
Tomorrow.
Love that!! Thanks, Jill!
Loved the simplicity of this recipe. Easy to follow instructions and the taste is scrumptious. Subtle tang of lemon on the backside is delightful and surprising given the small amount of lemon juice and zest used. This is definitely a dish I would (and will) serve for a crowd. I didn’t change anything about this recipe and I’m sure someone will want to add or take out but this house will eat it just as it was created!
Thrilled your family enjoyed it and you found it easy and approachable, Jennifer! Thank you for your 5-star review.
This was a hit with my family. It was easy and they loved it. It ran out so fast that I should’ve made double the amount. Thank you for this. I have saved it and will be making it more often.
You’re very welcome, Jolene! Appreciate your review! 😀
My husband and I loved it!
That’s what I like to hear! Thank you! 😀
Very tasty. A big hit at our house. Added mushrooms. Love the lemon.
Fantastic!! 😀 Thanks, Janet!
Hiya! Could you use cream cheese instead of cream? Thanks!
Hi! You could try, but you may need to thin it out with something like chicken broth or water. And you may need to adjust the lemon juice since cream cheese is already tangy. Let me know if you experiment!