Lemon Garlic Shrimp Chicken Pasta (Printable version)

Tender chicken and shrimp in zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce with al dente pasta

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta

03 - 12 oz linguine or spaghetti

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
06 - Zest of 1 lemon
07 - Juice of 1 lemon
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Sauce & Fats

09 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1/4 cup dry white wine
12 - 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

13 - 1/2 tsp salt, plus extra for pasta water
14 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
15 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

16 - Lemon wedges
17 - Extra chopped parsley

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Cook linguine in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Pat shrimp and chicken thoroughly dry with paper towels. Season both generously with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook 4-5 minutes until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
04 - Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the same skillet. Cook shrimp 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove to the plate with chicken.
05 - Reduce heat to medium. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Sauté shallot and garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
06 - Deglaze with white wine and simmer for 1 minute until reduced. Add chicken broth, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Simmer for 2 minutes to meld flavors.
07 - Return chicken and shrimp to the pan. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat thoroughly. Add reserved pasta water as needed for sauce consistency.
08 - Stir in fresh parsley and red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately garnished with lemon wedges and additional parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that restaurant quality surf and turf experience without the restaurant price tag
  • The lemon garlic butter sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
  • Perfect for those nights when you want something impressive but still manageable on a weeknight
02 -
  • Patting the shrimp and chicken completely dry is the single most important step for getting a good sear instead of a sad gray boil
  • That reserved pasta water is not optional, it contains starch that helps the sauce actually stick to the noodles instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl
03 -
  • If your sauce looks too thin, keep tossing the pasta over low heat and it will thicken up as the starch releases
  • Buy the best quality shrimp you can afford because in simple recipes like this the quality of each ingredient really shines through
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