Ingredients
Protein
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled and cut into strips
Vegetables
- 1 pound asparagus, ends removed and cut into 1 inch pieces
Pasta
- 10 ounces linguine pasta (or substitute with spaghetti or fettuccine)
Sauce
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/3 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Garnishes
- Lemon slices
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta and Asparagus: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine pasta and cook according to package instructions. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the asparagus pieces to the pot to cook until tender-crisp. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta cooking liquid before draining.
- Prepare the Lemon Cream Sauce: In a small pot over medium-high heat, combine heavy cream, butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, and cook until the sauce thickens enough to coat a spoon, about 4 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and stir in lemon zest and lemon juice to preserve the fresh lemon flavor and prevent sauce separation.
- Combine Pasta, Asparagus, and Chicken: Return the drained pasta and asparagus to the pot you cooked them in. Add the grilled chicken strips.
- Toss with Sauce and Cheese: Pour the lemon cream sauce over the pasta mixture and gently toss to coat everything evenly. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to desired consistency. Stir in the shredded parmesan cheese until melted and combined.
- Season and Garnish: Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices if desired. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute grilled chicken with rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Remove sauce from heat before adding lemon to prevent curdling.
- Serve immediately, as pasta absorbs sauce and thickens over time.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If asparagus is unavailable, substitute with green beans, broccoli, peas, or zucchini.
- Try different proteins like shrimp, scallops, salmon, or for a vegetarian option, white beans.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
