Chicken Scampi Pasta 

Chicken Scampi Pasta is a bright and flavorful 30‑minute meal from Natasha’s Kitchen featuring tender chicken strips sautéed in a lemon‑garlic butter sauce with white wine, tossed with spaghetti, and finished with fresh parsley and parmesan. Inspired by traditional shrimp scampi, this version swaps in chicken for a hearty yet light family favorite. The sauce is vibrant and satisfying—balanced citrus and garlic flavors uplifted by buttery richness. A perfect weeknight dinner that feels elegant but is surprisingly easy to prepare.

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
  
  

• 1½ lbs (680 g) chicken tenders
  
  

• 1½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  
  

• ½ tsp black pepper
  
  

• ½ cup all‑purpose flour
  
  

• 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  
  

• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  
  

• ¾ cup dry white wine (e.g. chardonnay or sauvignon blanc)
  
  

• 4 garlic cloves (≈ 1 Tbsp minced garlic)
  
  

• 1 tsp lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
  
  

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
  
  

• 1⁄3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  
  

• Freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving
  
  

Directions

1. Prep everything first: zest and juice lemons, mince garlic, chop parsley. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour.
   
   

2. Cook the pasta: Boil spaghetti in well‑salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and keep warm.

3. Sauté chicken: In a large skillet over medium‑high heat, add 1 Tbsp olive oil + 1 Tbsp butter. Cook chicken 2 minutes per side (or until internal temp 165 °F); transfer to a plate. Add the remaining oil + butter and cook remaining chicken.
   
   

4. Make the sauce: Pour ¾ cup wine into the pan, scrape up browned bits, and simmer ~5 minutes until reduced to about ¼ cup. Add 4 Tbsp butter and stir to melt. Add garlic and simmer 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat, then stir in lemon juice, zest, parsley, and additional salt if needed.
   
   

5. Combine and serve: Return chicken to skillet to coat in sauce. Transfer pasta to a serving bowl; spoon sauce over spaghetti and toss gently. Top with chicken and drizzle remaining sauce. Garnish with parsley and parmesan.
   
   

6. Pro tip: For extra sauce coverage, drizzle some reserved pasta water over noodles before serving.
   
   

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 551 kcal
  
  

• Protein: 33 g
  
  

• Fat: 20 g (incl. 9 g saturated)
  
  

• Carbohydrates: 53 g
  
  

• Fiber: 2 g
  
  

• Sugar: 2 g
  
  

• Cholesterol: 103 mg
  
  

• Sodium: 722 mg
  
  

• Potassium: 622 mg
  
  

• Vitamin A: 667 IU
  
  

• Vitamin C: 11 mg
  
  

• Calcium: 36 mg
  
  

• Iron: 2 mg