Description
Chicken Piccata Pasta is a quick, vibrant dish featuring juicy chicken thighs simmered in a lemony, buttery sauce with capers and garlic. Tossed with pasta and finished with fresh parsley and Parmesan, it’s comfort food with a bright twist.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup capers, drained
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (2 ounces), cubed
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain and set aside.
- Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot and just beginning to smoke.
- Add chicken and cook undisturbed for about 4 minutes, until browned on one side. Stir and cook an additional 3 minutes, until evenly browned.
- Add sliced garlic and crushed red pepper; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Pour in chicken broth and add capers. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute to combine flavors.
- Add cooked pasta, 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water, butter, and lemon juice. Stir over medium heat until the butter melts and the sauce coats the pasta, about 3 minutes. Add more pasta water if needed for a creamier consistency.
- Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
- Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs if preferred.
- Use spaghetti, linguine, or any pasta shape you like.
- To make it creamier, add a splash of heavy cream with the butter.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
