Description
Mary Berry’s lemon one-pan pasta brings Mediterranean flavors to weeknight dinners. Quick cooking techniques merge fresh ingredients with simple preparation, letting home cooks create delightful meals without complex kitchen work.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts
- ½ lb (226 g) angel hair pasta
- ⅔ cup (160 ml) parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1–2 tbsps Cajun seasoning or all-purpose chicken seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (to taste)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 4 tbsps butter
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) chicken stock
- ¾ cup (180 ml) chicken stock
- ¾ cup (180 ml) dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or Pinot Grigio)
- 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup (240 ml) half and half, room temperature
Instructions
- Seasoning: Thoroughly coat chicken with seasoning, ensuring complete and even coverage for robust flavor penetration.
- Searing: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, carefully placing chicken and allowing uninterrupted searing for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
- Cooking Chicken: Flip chicken, introduce stock, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes until fully cooked, then transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
- Sauce Foundation: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant, seasoning with salt and pepper to develop a flavor base.
- Liquid Reduction: Deglaze with white wine, allowing it to reduce, then add chicken stock and lemon juice to create a vibrant cooking liquid.
- Creamy Integration: Stream half and half into the mixture, bringing the sauce to a gentle simmer while maintaining consistent temperature.
- Pasta Preparation: Add pasta to the skillet, breaking longer pieces if necessary, and simmer while stirring frequently to ensure even cooking and sauce absorption.
- Cheese Incorporation: Gradually fold in Parmesan cheese, observing sauce thickening and creating a luxurious texture.
- Final Touches: Sprinkle fresh parsley, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes to enhance complexity and brightness.
- Serving: Plate pasta, top with sliced chicken, and garnish with remaining Parmesan cheese for a stunning presentation.
Notes
- Maximize Seasoning Impact: Thoroughly coat chicken on both sides to ensure deep, uniform flavor penetration before cooking.
- Perfect Searing Technique: Let chicken sit undisturbed in hot oil for 3-4 minutes to develop a golden, crispy exterior that locks in moisture.
- Wine Reduction Secret: Allow white wine to simmer and concentrate, creating a rich flavor foundation that elevates the entire dish’s taste profile.
- Cheese Melting Mastery: Add Parmesan gradually and fold carefully to achieve a smooth, creamy sauce without clumping or separating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg