Description
A luxurious Italian-American pasta dish featuring tender sautéed chicken, coated in a silky lemon butter garlic sauce, tossed with al dente spaghetti and topped with creamy burrata cheese. This easy yet elegant dinner recipe combines bright citrus flavors with rich creaminess for a comforting and impressive meal.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
Chicken and Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Toppings
- 8 oz burrata cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Heat the Fat: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon of butter and the olive oil until melted and shimmering.
- Cook the Chicken: Season the sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add them to the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Lemon and Broth: Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce simmer briefly for about 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss well to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed to loosen and emulsify the sauce.
- Combine Chicken and Pasta: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and gently toss everything together to combine and heat through.
- Serve and Garnish: Divide the pasta and chicken among serving plates. Top each portion with torn pieces of burrata cheese. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately while the burrata remains soft and creamy.
Notes
- Serve immediately for the best flavor and to enjoy the burrata at its creamiest texture.
- Fresh basil can be added as an additional herb garnish for a fragrant twist.
- Reserve pasta water is key to creating a silky, well-emulsified sauce.
- To keep chicken moist, avoid overcooking and slice thinly before cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
