My entire family is obsessed with these crispy lemon chicken bites! Served with a very light and herby lemony spaghetti, this is such a cozy meal but also one that is ridiculously satisfying. Perfect weeknight meal!
We’re making an easy Monday meal today!
This is one of those meals that my kids go wild for. Crispy lemony chicken, creamy spaghetti and a ton of fresh herbs. It’s light but comforting at the same time. It’s easy to make and easy to love!
And I almost want to tell you to double the chicken because it’s incredible. Little crisp lemon chicken bites. Sometimes I take one and dip it in dill sauce.
Mind blown deliciousness.
I don’t even know how to describe it…
These lemon chicken bites are SO good – they are perfect on their own. Or thrown over rice or any other kind of grain. Also incredible in a wrap or on top of a salad. They don’t even look that special but they are tender and juicy and cook fast.
And they are super easy to make! I chop up chicken breasts, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and add a sprinkle of cornstarch. Oh and some fresh lemon zest of course. It’s a dream!
Then, I crisp them up in a skillet and it takes mere minutes. Ridiculously easy, I tell you. They make the kitchen smell wonderful. The kids come in and want to steal a piece before the meal is even ready.
While the chicken is cooking, I boil some spaghetti. I like to use the same pan I cook the chicken in, so once it’s finished, I transfer it out. I throw the cooked pasta in, add some starchy pasta water, just a drop of cream, lots of fresh herbs and more lemon zest.
Oh! And parmesan. How could I ever forget?!
The spaghetti is similar to the lemon spaghetti with roasted chickpeas in Easy Everyday. That meal is such a staple for us – it’s so easy, the textures are great and it’s very satisfying. We make it all the time, so I’m always looking for a way to add more excitement or make it taste different!
Yes, I even change up my own recipes. All the time, in fact!
This spaghetti is super light. It has a very thin sauce-like coating with the pasta water and lemon and cream, but it’s not a thick sauce whatsoever.
I usually serve this with my parmesan roasted broccoli. If it seems like all I ever do is make that broccoli week after week, you’re right! My entire family is obsessed with it. The kids see broccoli on the counter and instantly ask for that version. It goes SO well with this meal.
And of course, you can use another cut of pasta too. I find that one pound of chicken and a half pound of pasta work well for this recipe. But if you’d like a more pasta-heavy dish, you can use the entire pound.
Simple and delish in the best way possible!
Crispy Lemon Chicken Bites & Spaghetti
Lemon Chicken Bites & Spaghetti
My entire family is obsessed with these crispy lemon chicken bites! Served with a very light and herby lemony spaghetti, this is such a cozy meal but also one that is ridiculously satisfying. Perfect weeknight meal!
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Chop the chicken breast into equal sized cubes. Season all over with the salt and pepper. Season all over with the garlic powder. Sprinkle on the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of the lemon zest and toss well.
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Heat the olive oil in a large (10 or 12 inch) skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken in a single layer.
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Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions. Make sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water once the pasta has cooked.
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Turn the chicken after it’s browned on one side, about 3 to 4 minutes. Continue to brown all over, for a total of about 10 to 12 minutes, until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
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Transfer the chicken to a plate.
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To the same skillet, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds (if needed, add another drizzle of olive oil here). Add in the cooked pasta, ½ cup pasta water, lemon juice, the heavy cream, and remaining lemon zest. Toss and stir for a minute or two so the pasta gets completely incorporated. Add more pasta water if needed. We’re not making a thick sauce, but just more of a slightly creamy lemon coating for the spaghetti. It will still be very light.
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Add the parmesan cheese and the parsley. Toss well again. Taste and season more if needed. Add the chicken back in the pan.
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Serve immediately. Top with extra parm and parsley.
Yum.