Description
This Chicken Scampi recipe features tender, golden chicken breasts sautéed with garlic, butter, white wine, and fresh lemon juice, all tossed with angel hair or linguine pasta. Ready in just 30 minutes, it delivers a flavorful, restaurant-quality Italian-American meal that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta
- 8 ounces angel hair or linguine pasta
Sauce and Garnish
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the angel hair or linguine pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Season the Chicken: Pat the sliced chicken breasts dry and season them evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken slices and sauté until they develop a golden-brown crust and are cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Add Butter: Reduce the heat to medium, add 3 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in ½ cup of dry white wine or chicken broth, then add fresh lemon juice, red pepper flakes if using, and stir to combine. Simmer the sauce for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the liquids to reduce slightly and the flavors to meld.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet along with the drained pasta. Add ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese and toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and create a silky coating over the pasta.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute shrimp for chicken to make a classic shrimp scampi variant.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice enhances the brightness and freshness of the sauce better than bottled lemon juice.
- Consider serving this pasta with crusty garlic bread and a fresh green salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
