Thin and delicate angel hair noodles are paired with a creamy, zesty white wine sauce, fresh basil and golden cubes of chicken breast. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds the final touch to this lemon basil pasta that comes together in less than 30 minutes.
This pasta recipe is great if you are looking for a creamy yet light meal that will keep you satisfied as well. To add to the meal, it can be served with oven roasted white asparagus and white sangria.
Although some of the ingredients like angel hair pasta, basil and lemon juice sound simple, their unique textures and flavors help this dish come together for a delicious dinner recipe.
I also have these other noodle dishes I think you'll love: keto zucchini zoodles, kimchi udon noodles and chicken lo mein stir fry.
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🍋 Ingredients
- angel hair pasta - You can also use capellini noodles if you can't find angel hair as they're only slightly thicker.
- chicken breast - For best results, get some fresh chicken with a pinkish hue. Frozen, thawed chicken breast will work too.
- white wine - Use a dry white wine like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
- heavy cream - Can contain between 36% to 40% milk fat. You can substitute with whipping cream for a lighter option (it contains as low as 30% milk fat).
- fresh basil - I use regular sweet basil, the most common kind found in the grocery stores, but if you can find lemon basil that would add extra lemony flavor. The fresh basil is added to the sauce towards the end of the cook to retain its aroma and flavor.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
🍜 Angel Hair Noodles
What makes angel hair pasta different from other pasta types are its thinness and quickness. It is commonly compared to spaghetti, but much finer. It is often used in recipes with simple ingredients like olive oil, butter, cherry tomatoes, or a cream sauce like in this recipe.
Because of its thin strands, angel hair cooks quicker than other pasta. While some pasta takes 8 to 12 minutes to cook it until al dente, angel hair can take as little as 3 to 5 minutes, making this a great recipe if you have limited time.
If need be, you can use capellini noodles as a substitution. They are only slightly thicker than angel hair.
🔪 How to Make Lemon Basil Pasta
Step 1. Cook the pasta. Cook the pasta al dente, according to package instructions, drain and toss it with some olive oil.
Step 2. Fry the chicken. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and fry until golden and cooked through. Reserve.
Step 3. Cook garlic. Heat the same pan to medium heat and melt the butter in it. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Step 4. Make sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the lemon juice, white wine, cream and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until heated through.
Step 5. Toss. Toss the pasta with the sauce.
Step 6. Serve. Serve the lemon basil pasta topped with the chicken, freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
🥗 What to Serve With Lemon Basil Pasta
If you would like to add more vegetables to this dish, I recommend a green or red vegetable for more color to contrast the creamy yet bright pasta. A personal favorite is grilled broccoli because broccoli is a common pairing with chicken and cream sauces.
If you want to make it feel more sophisticated, a light asparagus side dish is a great suggestion.
As for other side dishes, you could go with garlic bread (try my pumpkin garlic naan) to soak up all of that creamy sauce. It can also complement the pasta with a good crunch.
For a healthier alternative, a simple salad like this hemp heart salad with a homemade vinaigrette will pair well with this dish. The fresh vegetables and vinaigrette will fit appropriately with the brightness of the pasta.
✅ Joss' Tips
- Add enough water to cook the pasta. For each pound of pasta, 4 quarts of water is needed in the pot for cooking.
- Separate the noodles. As soon as the pasta hits the water, be sure to stir and separate the strands so that they don't stick together.
- Don't rinse. Don't rinse the pasta after cooking. You only need to do that for cold dishes.
🌡️ Storage
Leftovers can be stored for up to 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge.
❤️ More Zesty Lemon Recipes You Will Love
If you tried this 🍋 Lemon Basil Pasta Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Lemon Basil Pasta (With Chicken)
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound angel hair pasta - or capellini1
- 2 tablespoons olive oil - divided
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breast - cubed
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 garlic cloves - minced
- ½ cup lemon juice - freshly squeezed
- ½ cup white wine - like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup basil leaves - thinly sliced
- salt and pepper - to taste
To Serve
- fresh basil leaves
- Parmesan cheese - freshly grated
Instructions
- Cook the pasta al dente, according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and toss it with 1 tablespoon of olive oil so that it doesn’t stick together. Reserve.1 pound angel hair pasta
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and fry until golden and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and reserve.1 ½ pounds chicken breast
- Heat the same pan to medium heat and melt the butter in it. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.1 tablespoon butter, 3 garlic cloves
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the lemon juice, white wine, cream and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until heated through.½ cup lemon juice, ½ cup white wine, 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup basil leaves
- Toss the pasta with the sauce.
- Serve the pasta topped with the chicken, freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
Equipment
Notes
- If need be, you can use capellini noodles as a substitution for the angel hair. They are only slightly thicker than angel hair noodles.
- Angel hair cooks quicker than regular spaghetti. It will take about only 3 to 5 minutes to cook it al dente.
- For each pound of pasta, 4 quarts of water is needed in the pot for cooking.
- As soon as the pasta hits the water, be sure to stir and separate the strands so that they don't stick together.
- Don't rinse the pasta after cooking. You only need to do that for cold dishes.
- Leftovers can be stored for up to 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Joss says
This is absolutely delicious, easy to make and full of zesty flavor. I like to serve it when we have company or for date night.
Dylan Frercks says
I really enjoyed this recipe. Added Parmesan to the sauce while reducing to make it a tad thicker 🙂
Joss D says
Good to hear, Dylan! Thanks for letting me know.