Description
Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta combines tender chicken, bright lemon, and aromatic garlic with creamy plant-based cheese (plant-based) sauce for a fresh and comforting meal ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests, this recipe uses simple pantry staples and can be customized with veggies or alternative pasta options.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, freshly minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup plant-based cheese (plant-based), shredded or grated
- Salt and pepper (natural), to taste
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta of choice (spaghetti, linguine, or penne)
- Water and salt for boiling pasta
Finishing Touches
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: natural gelling agent (a small pinch) for thickening the sauce if desired
Instructions
- Preparing the Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips for quick cooking. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Season the chicken strips with salt and pepper. Sauté the chicken until golden and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to keep warm.
- Making the Garlic Lemon Sauce: In the same pan, add a bit more olive oil if needed and sauté the minced garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Deglaze the pan by pouring in the vegetable broth and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), scraping up any bits from the bottom. Stir in lemon juice and zest, allowing the sauce to simmer gently and reduce slightly for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Cooking the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, boil pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Combining Ingredients: Return the cooked chicken to the pan with the sauce. Stir in the cooked pasta and plant-based cheese (plant-based). Toss everything together over low heat until the cheese melts and the sauce coats every strand. Add reserved pasta water gradually if the sauce needs loosening. Optionally, stir in a small pinch of natural gelling agent to thicken the sauce as desired.
- Final Touches: Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top for color and freshness. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or additional lemon juice as desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic for the best aromatic flavor.
- Do not overcook chicken; remove from heat once no longer pink to keep it juicy.
- Reserve pasta water to help bind sauce and pasta.
- Add lemon juice gradually to balance acidity.
- Choose plant-based cheese (plant-based) that melts well for a creamy finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: lemon garlic chicken pasta, plant-based cheese pasta, quick chicken pasta, creamy lemon pasta, dairy-free pasta, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce pasta
