Lemon Chicken Pasta

4.9

(17)

10 Reviews

In this easy lemon chicken pasta recipe, we love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken, quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby spinach, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes.

Sara Haas, RDN, LDN

Updated on April 18, 2024

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Reviewed by Dietitian

Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

10 mins

Servings:

Yield:

2 cups

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes-Friendly Nut-Free Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Soy-Free High-Protein Egg-Free Low-Calorie

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Ingredients

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup spiralized zucchini (see Tip)
1 cup baby spinach
½ cup shredded skinless rotisserie chicken breast
⅛ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
½ cup cooked whole-wheat spaghetti
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs, toasted (see Tip)

Directions

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini; cook for 1 minute. Add spinach and chicken; cook for 1 more minute. Season with salt and pepper; remove from heat. Add cooked spaghetti, Parmesan, lemon zest, and lemon juice; toss to combine. Sprinkle with toasted panko and serve.

Tips

Make your own zucchini noodles with a spiralizer; you'll need 1 small zucchini (about 2 oz.) for 1 cup of zoodles. Or look for a package of fresh zucchini noodles in the produce department.

To toast panko breadcrumbs: Set a small skillet over medium heat. Add panko and cook, stirring often, until golden, about 2 minutes. For extra flavor, melt 1 tsp. butter in the pan before toasting the breadcrumbs. Note that you can do this step first, using the same pan you'll use to prepare the rest of the recipe.

To make ahead

Cook pasta up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate.

Equipment

Vegetable spiralizer

Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

350	Calories
15g	Fat
27g	Carbs
29g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 1
Serving Size 2 cups
Calories 350
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 27g	10%
Dietary Fiber 4g	15%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 29g	57%
Total Fat 15g	20%
Saturated Fat 4g	19%
Cholesterol 66mg	22%
Vitamin A 2108IU	42%
Vitamin C 32mg	35%
Folate 44mcg	11%
Sodium 712mg	31%
Calcium 187mg	14%
Iron 3mg	15%
Magnesium 91mg	22%
Potassium 517mg	11%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.