Enjoy a delightful Lemon Chicken Pasta Primavera, packed with fresh vegetables and bright, zesty lemon flavor for a satisfying meal.

Lemon Chicken Pasta Primavera: Fresh Veggies & Zesty Flavor 16

This easy recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. It brings together tender chicken, vibrant seasonal veggies, and a light, citrusy sauce, making it a family favorite that’s both nutritious and incredibly flavorful.

This dish is designed for busy home cooks who want to put a wholesome and delicious meal on the table without spending hours in the kitchen. Its fresh ingredients and straightforward steps make it an ideal choice for a quick dinner after a long day or a lovely meal to share with friends.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This Lemon Chicken Pasta Primavera is a true weeknight hero, offering a fantastic balance of flavors and textures that everyone will enjoy. It’s incredibly versatile, allowing you to use whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand, making it perfect for utilizing seasonal produce. The zesty lemon sauce brightens up the entire dish, preventing it from feeling heavy, while the lean chicken adds a satisfying protein boost. It’s a complete meal in one bowl, making cleanup a breeze, and it comes together surprisingly fast, which is a huge plus for hectic evenings. You can serve this for a casual family dinner, a light lunch, or even as a refreshing option for a potluck.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients before you start cooking is the best way to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience in the kitchen. This recipe uses readily available items that you can find at any grocery store, making it accessible for all home cooks. The fresh produce is key to the “primavera” aspect, so choose vibrant, crisp vegetables for the best results.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for tossing pasta
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1 pound pasta (such as rotini, penne, or linguine)
2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup snap peas
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 1-2 lemons)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

For simple substitutions, you can easily swap the chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which offer a slightly richer flavor. If you don’t have broccoli, green beans or asparagus would work wonderfully. Feel free to use frozen vegetables if fresh aren’t available; just make sure to thaw them first and adjust cooking times as needed to prevent them from becoming mushy. Any short pasta shape will work well, or even a longer strand pasta like linguine if that’s what you prefer. For a dairy-free option, you can omit the butter and Parmesan, or use plant-based alternatives.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed for efficiency, getting a delicious and wholesome meal on your table without a long wait.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

This timing assumes you’ll be prepping your vegetables and chicken while the pasta water comes to a boil, maximizing your efficiency in the kitchen.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Follow these straightforward steps to create your delicious Lemon Chicken Pasta Primavera. Each step is designed to be clear and easy to follow, even for beginner cooks.

Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C). Remove the chicken from the skillet, let it rest for a few minutes, then dice or shred it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
Cook the pasta: While the chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
Sauté the vegetables: In the same skillet used for the chicken (no need to clean it), add a little more olive oil if necessary. Add the broccoli florets, sliced carrots, and chopped red onion. Sauté for 5-7 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften but are still crisp-tender.
Add garlic and snap peas: Stir in the minced garlic and snap peas. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and the snap peas are bright green. Be careful not to overcook the garlic, as it can become bitter.
Build the lemon sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and fresh lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – these add wonderful flavor. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
Combine and finish: Add the cooked pasta, diced chicken, and butter to the skillet with the vegetables and sauce. Toss everything together until well combined and the butter has melted, creating a light, glossy sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta cooking water until it reaches your desired consistency.
Stir in cheese and herbs: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley. Toss gently until the cheese is melted and evenly distributed. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
Serve immediately: Divide the Lemon Chicken Pasta Primavera among plates and serve hot, with extra Parmesan cheese and a lemon wedge on the side for an added burst of freshness.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This Lemon Chicken Pasta Primavera is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to tailor it to your family’s preferences or what you have on hand.

For a vegetarian version, simply omit the chicken and add a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas or white beans during the last few minutes of cooking for a protein boost. You could also include sautéed mushrooms or zucchini. To make it more kid-friendly, you might want to use smaller pasta shapes like mini shells or elbow macaroni, and finely chop the vegetables. Kids often enjoy a little extra Parmesan cheese on top, and you can always serve a side of plain chicken for picky eaters.

Consider adding other vegetables like bell peppers, spinach (stir in at the very end until wilted), or cherry tomatoes (halved and added with the snap peas). A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a subtle kick if you enjoy a bit of heat. For a richer flavor, you could swirl in a tablespoon of cream cheese or a splash of heavy cream with the butter.

This dish is fantastic on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette or some crusty garlic bread for soaking up the delicious sauce. It’s a great option for a casual buffet-style meal, as it holds up well at room temperature for a short period.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for can help you achieve perfect results every time.

One common mistake is overcooking the pasta. Overcooked pasta becomes mushy and loses its desirable texture. Always cook pasta to al dente, which means it’s tender but still has a slight bite. Check the package directions and start tasting a minute or two before the suggested cooking time.

Another frequent issue is overcooking the chicken. Dry, rubbery chicken can ruin an otherwise delicious dish. Cook chicken breasts until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and no longer. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure perfect doneness. Also, allowing the chicken to rest for a few minutes after cooking helps keep it juicy.

Mushy vegetables are another common slip-up in primavera dishes. The goal is crisp-tender vegetables that retain some bite and vibrant color. Avoid overcrowding the skillet, as this can steam the vegetables instead of sautéing them. Cook them just until they are tender enough to eat but still have a slight crunch. Adding the more delicate vegetables, like snap peas, towards the end of the cooking process helps prevent them from becoming overdone.

Finally, not seasoning sufficiently can lead to a bland dish. Taste your food as you go! Adjust the salt, pepper, and lemon juice at the end to ensure the flavors are perfectly balanced. The reserved pasta water is also key; don’t forget to use it to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This Lemon Chicken Pasta Primavera is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored and reheated successfully with a few tips to maintain its quality.

To store leftovers, allow the pasta to cool completely before transferring

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.