Creamy Lemon Chicken One Pan Pasta Skillet makes the perfect easy weeknight meal. Best of all, it’s made entirely in ONE PAN in under 25 minutes. Full of lemon, chicken, spinach, parmesan and ricotta.
Easy slow cooker meals and one pan dishes are my favorites! They are perfect for saving so many busy weeknights around here.
This Creamy Lemon Chicken One-Pan Pasta is probably the easiest one-pot dish out of them all. It’s literally a 5-minute prep, and then everything gets tossed right into the pan, including the uncooked pasta.
Just let the water come to a boil and that’s it! Dinner can be ready and on the table in only 25 minutes and with only ONE PAN to clean up.
You can also easily toss in or replace the protein and veggies with whatever you have on hand. And like my other one pan pasta dishes, simply replace the pasta with gluten-free or your favorite kind that you have on hand.
Start off by browning the chicken with some garlic and then toss in the uncooked pasta and just let it simmer away.
Every so often, you’ll just have to stir it so the pasta doesn’t stick.
Once it’s almost cooked, I like to toss in some spinach for extra veggies, fresh basil, parsley, lemon juice and zest and finally Parmesan and ricotta cheese.
It’s super tasty and full of bright refreshing citrus flavors. You can’t beat how simple and easy it is to whip up making it perfect for those busy spring and summer weeknights.
Make ahead tips for this Creamy Lemon Chicken One Pan Pasta Skillet
- cube the chicken the day before and store in a zip-top freezer bag in the fridge
- chop your veggies and store in a zip-top bag in the fridge

- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch chunks
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 3 cups uncooked penne or rotini pasta I used gluten free penne
- 2 medium lemons zested and juiced
- 1 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese or more to taste
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (I used light)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves sliced thinly
- 1/2 cup loosely packed spinach sliced thinly
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- sea salt to taste
- 1 lemon sliced for garnish
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Toss in chicken and saute until just browned.
- Stir in chicken broth, water, and uncooked pasta to pan.
- Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to low.
- Cover pan and cook on low for about 11-13 minutes, stirring pasta with tongs often so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove cover when pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Allow to simmer for about five more minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, spinach, parsley, basil, parmesan cheese and ricotta cheese.
- Season with additional salt and pepper if needed and garnish with lemon and additional parmesan cheese and parsley, if desired.
Heavily adapted from The Kitchn
More One-Pan Meals:
Zucchini Noodle Skillet Lasagna {One Pan} {GF}
35 Sensational Skillet / One-Pan Meals
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary -
Wow, this pasta just screams summertime deliciousness! Love the bright, creamy flavors and the fact that it’s one pot?!? YES please! Scrumptious, for sure!! On a side note: as someone (the only woman at the establishment) who has worked as a grill line cook, you have nothing to be scared of. I’m a HUGE klutz, so I KNOW if I can do it, so can you! But, if Boy wants to man the grill, I’m allllll for sitting back and letting him do the work. So actually, you have a nice set up going on♡ Cheers, girlie to a beautiful dish and a wonderful weekend!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen -
Your pictures are gorgeous Kelly! So clear and vibrant! This looks like such a wonderful weeknight meal.
Kelly -
Thanks Christin! Hope you’re having a great weekend so far!
Mary Frances -
Oh my gosh yes, this is gorgeous! I love how bright this dish is! Haha, yes, I remember when mom had me run the grill for five minutes – most stressful five minutes of my day. 😉 But grilling is still one of the best parts of summer!
Kelly -
Haha I feel the same way 🙂 Thanks girl, have a great rest of the weekend!
Angie@Angie's Recipes -
This is my kind of pasta..simple, quick and full of flavours, Kelly.
Kelly -
Thanks Angie! 🙂
Annie @ The Garlic Diaries -
I am in love with one pot meals. This looks so easy and yummy! Definitely going on my list!
Kelly -
Thanks Annie!