One-Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken & Pasta
A vibrant, creamy pasta dish with tender chicken and zesty lemon that comes together in one pot for a stress-free weeknight dinner. This Italian-American-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs penne pasta, boneless chicken thighs, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 680 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Season 1 lb boneless chicken thighs with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear chicken for 5 minutes per side until golden brown, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves to the pot with 1 tbsp olive oil, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Add 12 oz penne pasta, stirring to coat in oil.
- Step 3: Pour in 1 cup vegetable broth and 1 cup heavy cream, bringing to a gentle simmer. Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water from cooking, then return chicken to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 12 minutes until pasta is al dente and sauce thickens.
- Step 4: Squeeze juice from 1 lemon over the pasta, add 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, and stir until the sauce coats the pasta evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.









