Lemon Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta

Name: Lemon Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 28 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound linguine pasta; 1.5 pound chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 3 clove garlic (minced); 0.5 cup chicken broth (low sodium); 0.25 cup lemon juice; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground); 5 ounce fresh spinach; 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (grated, for serving)

A light yet satisfying pasta dish featuring pan-seared chicken, fresh spinach, and linguine tossed in a bright lemon-garlic sauce.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 18 min
Total: 28 min
Servings: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $2.12/serving

Dietary

Nut-Free
High-Protein
Low-Sugar

Ingredients

1 pound linguine pasta
1.5 pound chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes)
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 clove garlic (minced)
0.5 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
0.25 cup lemon juice
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
5 ounce fresh spinach
0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (grated, for serving)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cubes and cook for 5-7 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth and fresh lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
Return the chicken to the skillet. Add the fresh spinach and cook until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the drained linguine to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to create a light sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

For a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic. You can substitute any long pasta shape like spaghetti or fettuccine for linguine.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 505
Protein: 42.1 g
Carbohydrates: 54.3 g
Fat: 13.9 g
Fiber: 4.1 g
Sodium: 480 mg
Saturated Fat: 4.2 g
Sugar: 3.5 g
Cholesterol: 88 mg