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Creamy Garlic Lemon Chicken Scampi Recipe

4.7 from 142 reviews

Chicken Scampi is a flavorful Italian-American dish featuring sautéed chicken breasts cooked in a rich garlic butter and lemon sauce, then tossed with pasta for a simple yet elegant meal perfect for weeknights or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced

Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lemon, juiced and zested
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Pasta

  • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for pasta water)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
  2. Sauté the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a small amount of butter or oil, then add the thinly sliced chicken breasts. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. Make the garlic butter sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Stir in lemon juice and zest, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Toss pasta and chicken: Add the cooked pasta and chicken back into the skillet with the garlic butter sauce. Toss everything together to evenly coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
  5. Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter sauce.
  • Use fresh lemon juice to enhance the brightness of the dish.
  • Thinly slicing the chicken ensures it cooks quickly and remains tender.
  • Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
  • Serve with a side of garlic bread or a light salad for a complete meal.

Keywords: Chicken Scampi, garlic butter chicken, lemon chicken pasta, Italian pasta dish, quick chicken dinner