One-Pan Lemon Herb Pasta Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken with pasta, lemon, and fresh herbs—all cooked together in one pan for easy cleanup.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta

02 - 10 oz penne or fusilli pasta, uncooked

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 lemon, zest and juice
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 2 cups baby spinach

→ Herbs

09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme

→ Liquids

13 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Dairy

14 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

→ Seasoning

15 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken pieces and cook 3-4 minutes until lightly browned but not fully cooked through. Transfer to a plate and reserve.
02 - In the same pan, sauté onion and garlic for 2 minutes until fragrant and translucent, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
03 - Add pasta, chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, and thyme. Stir well to combine and bring to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
05 - Return chicken to the pan with cherry tomatoes. Cook uncovered 7-8 minutes until pasta is al dente and most liquid has been absorbed.
06 - Stir in spinach, parsley, basil, and Parmesan. Cook 1-2 minutes until spinach wilts and cheese melts. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or additional lemon juice as needed.
07 - Plate immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan and fresh herbs.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means fewer dishes staring at you from the sink later.
  • The lemon brightness cuts through the richness in a way that makes you feel like you're eating something light, even though it's genuinely satisfying.
  • It comes together in 40 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you're hungry but your energy for cooking is already depleted.
02 -
  • Don't skip browning the chicken—even that quick 3-4 minutes creates flavor that makes everything taste more finished and intentional.
  • The pasta soaks up liquid as it cooks, so the dish transforms from soupy to creamy naturally without any cream at all, which is the real magic happening here.
03 -
  • Taste your chicken broth before using it—some are quite salty, and you want to avoid overseasoning when you're not building a sauce separately.
  • Fresh Parmesan grated right before cooking melts smoothly and tastes dramatically better than pre-grated versions, which is worth the 30 seconds it takes to grab a microplane.
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