One-Pot Lemon Chicken and Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-08 · Updated 2026-04-08

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A vibrant weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken and pasta in a bright lemon-herb sauce. This Italian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, pasta, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 500 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 pound, boneless and skinless chicken thighs
8 ounces penne pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium, zested and juiced lemon
4 cloves, minced garlic
1.5 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Step 2: Add 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown, then remove and set aside.
Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
Step 4: Stir in 8 ounces penne pasta, 1.5 cups chicken broth, and 2 medium zested and juiced lemons, bringing to a simmer.
Step 5: Return chicken to skillet, add 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, and simmer uncovered for 12-14 minutes until pasta is tender and sauce reduces slightly, stirring occasionally.