Description

Chicken Zucchini Pasta is a quick, healthy, and delicious weeknight meal featuring tender chicken, fresh zucchini, and perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a light lemon and garlic-infused sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs. Ready in under 30 minutes, it is nutritious, vibrant, and easy to make, perfect for busy evenings or wholesome dinners with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

2 chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized pieces

Vegetables

2 medium zucchinis, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced

Pasta

8 ounces spaghetti or linguine pasta

Other Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the chicken: Slice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a hot pan and cook the chicken until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Cook the pasta: While the chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water for later use.
Sauté the zucchini and garlic: In the same pan, add remaining olive oil. Sauté thinly sliced zucchini and minced garlic until the zucchini is tender but still slightly crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
Combine ingredients: Return the cooked chicken to the pan with sautéed zucchini. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together, gradually adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to create a light, silky sauce that evenly coats all the ingredients.
Final touches: Turn off the heat, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the pasta, and sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh herbs. Gently toss once more and serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t overcook zucchini; keep it slightly crisp for better texture.
Use fresh herbs like basil or parsley to brighten the flavor significantly.
Reserve pasta water to help bind the sauce and add silky consistency without extra fat.
Cut chicken pieces uniformly to ensure even cooking.
Season chicken, zucchini, and pasta with salt and pepper separately for balanced seasoning.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing
Cuisine: Italian-inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 300 mg
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: thirty five g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 32 g
Cholesterol: 75 mg

Keywords: chicken zucchini pasta, healthy pasta recipe, quick dinner, weeknight meal, lean protein pasta, zucchini recipe