A deliciously creamy lemon chicken pasta recipe! Quick, easy to make, and best of all it's on the table in under 30 minutes!
The chicken pasta is enveloped in a silky smooth creme fraiche lemon sauce, flavoured with grated Parmesan and basil. It's is a real crowd-pleaser, and perfect in the summer months with a crisp green salad on the side!
My whole family rave about this dish and ask for it often! But I don't mind, I could eat it every day of the week if I had to!
It's light, summery, and really filling, and therefore ideal for growing kids and teenagers!
👩🍳 Love chicken pasta? Try my BBQ chicken pasta recipe too!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
- Quick and easy creamy chicken pasta recipe.
- Great for a weeknight dinner.
- Uses creme fraiche rather than cream.
- The perfect balance of carbs and protein.
- Filling and delicious.
- Perfect for lemon lovers.
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Pasta - I used spaghetti but angel hair pasta would also work well, as would any other type of pasta shape.
- Chicken - skinless boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bitesize chunks.
- Olive Oil - for frying.
- Onion - one standard brown onion, chopped finely.
- Garlic - three cloves (we like it garlicky!), finely chopped.
- Plain Flour - helps thicken the sauce.
- Chicken Stock - made from a stock cube or stock pot.
- Creme Fraiche - must be full-fat or use sour cream.
- Frozen Peas - or petit pois.
- Basil - you could also use parlsey
- Lemon - use an unwaxed lemon for the best flavour.
- Parmesan - finely grated.
- Salt and Pepper.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Cook the pasta to al dente in a pan of salted water, and then drain (reserving 1 cup of cooking water). Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a shallow casserole or skillet and fry the chicken pieces until browned. Remove to a plate.
Two: Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and gently cook the onions and garlic on a medium heat until soft.
Three: Stir in the flour.
Four: Whisk in the stock and creme fraiche.
Five: Add the peas, chopped basil, lemon zest and lemon juice and give it a stir.
Six: Add the browned chicken back into the pan along with the grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Simmer for 8-10 minutes to thicken the sauce.
Seven: Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan, along with enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to make a silky smooth sauce.
Eight: Serve with more basil and grated Parmesan.
💭 Expert tips
- Add salt to your pasta cooking water. You should cook pasta in water that is as salty as the Mediterranean!
- Don't forget to reserve the pasta cooking water. It helps the pasta sauce to emulsify and become silky smooth.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve the lemon chicken pasta with homemade focaccia, a side salad (this goat's cheese and beetroot salad is a delicious option), with extra Parmesan on the table for those that like their pasta dishes really cheesy!
A cheeky glass of sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio always goes down well with the adults!
📖 Variations
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the finished dish.
- Use double cream (heavy cream) instead of creme fraiche for a richer flavour.
- Add more vegetables! Baby spinach would work well and wilt into the hot sauce.
- Add a splash of white wine after cooking the onions.
- Add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning at the same time as the flour.
- Use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breasts.
- Garnish with crispy bacon bits for extra flavour.
- Use penne pasta instead of spaghetti.
- Make a creamy lemon chicken pasta bake.
🥡 Storage
Store: Leftovers should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Place in a microwaveable bowl and reheat on high until piping hot.
Freeze: Allow to cool then place in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge.
😋 More chicken pasta recipes
- Creamy Paprika Chicken Pasta
- Coronation Chicken Pasta Salad
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Rasta Pasta with Chicken
- Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
You might also like my chicken and vegetable stew recipe!
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Recipe
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 300 g Pasta
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Chicken Breasts cut into bitesize pieces
- 1 Onion chopped
- 3 Garlic Cloves finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Plain Flour
- 450 ml Chicken Stock
- 200 g Creme Fraiche
- 150 g Frozen Peas
- 2 tablespoon Basil chopped finely
- 1 Lemon zest and juice
- 75 g Parmesan grated
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al dente in a pan of salted water, and then drain (reserving 1 cup of cooking water).300 g Pasta
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a shallow casserole or skillet and fry the chicken pieces until browned. Remove to a plate.2 tablespoon Olive Oil, 2 Chicken Breasts
- Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and gently cook the onions and garlic on a medium heat until soft.2 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Onion, 3 Garlic Cloves
- Stir in the flour.1 tablespoon Plain Flour
- Whisk in the stock and creme fraiche.450 ml Chicken Stock, 200 g Creme Fraiche
- Add the peas, chopped basil, lemon zest and lemon juice and give it a stir.150 g Frozen Peas, 2 tablespoon Basil, 1 Lemon
- Add the browned chicken back into the pan along with the grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Simmer for 8-10 minutes to thicken the sauce.75 g Parmesan, 1 teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan, along with enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to make a silky smooth sauce. Serve with more basil and grated Parmesan.300 g Pasta
Notes
- Add salt to your pasta cooking water. You should cook pasta in water that is salty as the Mediterranean!
- Don't forget to reserve the pasta cooking water. It helps the pasta sauce to emulsify and become silky smooth.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the finished dish.
- Use double cream (heavy cream) instead of creme fraiche for a richer flavour.
- Add more vegetables! Baby spinach would work well and wilt into the hot sauce.
- Add a splash of white wine after cooking the onions.
- Add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning at the same time as the flour.
- Use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breasts.
- Garnish with crispy bacon bits for extra flavour.
Andrea
I can see why your family loves this. It looks and sounds amazing!
Hailey
Simple and delicious! This recipe is so easy to make but flavorful. I highly recommend it.
Holley
I love how quick and easy this meal is to come together! Such a time saver and the whole family is satified!
Tavo
The pasta dish was super yummy and creamy! Another great recipe, thank you.
Sara
Thank you for this recipe! We have a new week day favourite, simple to whip up and all the kids enjoyed it!!