Posted September 12, 2023 by: Admin #Kitchen

Chicken Scampi Pasta features a delicious garlic butter sauce that is both light and satisfying. This recipe, inspired by our Shrimp Scampi Pasta, received great praise from our family as they eagerly devoured their plates.

My kids were particularly fond of the lemon flavor and went back for seconds, as did my husband. It’s truly a wonderful feeling when everyone at the dinner table is thoroughly pleased.

We are big fans of chicken pasta recipes, including Chicken Alfredo, Lemon Chicken Pasta, and Chicken Tetrazzini. If you love pasta as much as we do, you must give this Chicken Scampi Pasta a try.

What defines a dish as scampi?

In the US, most people associate Scampi with the Italian-American concept of Shrimp Scampi. However, scampi on its own refers to a dish served in a sauce made of butter, garlic, and dry white wine. Scampi can be made with various ingredients, including lobster, scallops, and chicken scampi.

Ingredients for Chicken Scampi

• Pasta – use 12 oz spaghetti and salt the water
• Chicken Tenders – the easiest and most forgiving chicken to work with
• Salt, Pepper, Flour – to dredge the chicken
• Olive Oil, Butter – to cook the chicken and make sauce (do not skimp on the butter)
• White Wine – use a dry wine such as chardonnay or sauvignon blanc
• Garlic – 4 cloves, or 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• Lemon – you’ll need 1 tsp of zest and 1/4 cup lemon juice from 1 large or 2 medium lemons
• Parsley – finely chopped and added at the end

How to Make Chicken Scampi

• Prep – before heating the stove, make sure to chop, zest, juice, and mince all the necessary ingredients. Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper, then coat them with flour, shaking off any excess.
• Cook Pasta – Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot, covering it partially to keep warm.
• Sauté Chicken – While the pasta is cooking, sauté the chicken. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and swirl in 1 tablespoon of butter. Sauté the chicken for about 2 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked (reaching an internal temperature of 165˚F on a thermometer). Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm. Add another tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet, then sauté the remaining chicken before transferring it to the plate as well.

• Make Sauce – Deglaze the skillet with 3/4 cup of white wine and cook for about 5 minutes until it reduces to about 1/4 cup of liquid. Add 4 tablespoons of butter and stir until melted. Add the garlic and simmer for 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove the skillet from heat and add 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, and 1/4 cup of parsley. Stir to combine and season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt or to taste.
• Combine – Return the chicken to the skillet and coat it with the sauce. Transfer the drained pasta to a large serving bowl, then tilt the skillet and spoon any extra sauce over the spaghetti. Lightly toss the spaghetti with the sauce, then top it with the chicken and drizzle any remaining sauce over the pasta*. Garnish with additional parsley and freshly shredded parmesan cheese.

Pro Tip: Use some of your reserved pasta water to deglaze the empty skillet, then drizzle it over your pasta to fully incorporate all the delicious sauce.

Common Questions

Can I use chicken breast?

Yes, you can substitute chicken breast for the chicken tenders. Make sure to trim off any excess fat and cut the chicken breast into strips measuring approximately 1 inch thick.

How can I reheat the pasta?

To reheat leftover pasta and chicken, heat them over low heat in a skillet until warmed through. If the pasta seems dry, you can drizzle it with water and a little more butter. For added flavor, squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the pasta and serve with freshly chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese.

Can I use cooking wine?

While you can use an inexpensive dry white cooking wine, I highly recommend using a wine that you enjoy drinking. Avoid using “cooking wine,” as it contains preservatives, sweeteners, and salt that can negatively affect the dish’s taste.

Serve with

Chicken Scampi Pasta is already a hearty and satisfying meal on its own. However, you can enhance it further by serving it with a simple vegetable side dish or salad. Some great accompaniments for pasta include:

Make Chicken Scampi for your next pasta night. This easy 30-minute meal comes together quickly, and everyone will love it.

Chicken Scampi Pasta Recipe

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes

• Prep: Ensure that all necessary ingredients are chopped, zested, juiced, and minced prior to heating the stove. Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper, then coat them with flour.
• Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot, partially covering it to keep warm.
• Sauté Chicken: While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of butter, then sauté the chicken for approximately 2 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (reaching an internal temperature of 165˚F on a thermometer). Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm. Add another tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet, then sauté the remaining chicken before transferring it to the plate and covering it.
• Make Sauce: Carefully add 3/4 cup white wine to the skillet, then return it to medium-high heat and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until the liquid reduces to about 1/4 cup. Add 4 tablespoons of butter and stir until melted. Add the garlic and simmer for 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove the skillet from heat and add 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and 1/4 cup parsley. Stir to combine and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste.
• Combine: Return the chicken to the skillet and coat it with the sauce. Transfer the drained pasta to a large serving bowl, then tilt the skillet and spoon any extra sauce over the spaghetti. Lightly toss the spaghetti with the sauce, then top it with the chicken and drizzle any remaining sauce over the pasta*. Garnish with additional parsley and freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.

Pro Tip: For a saucier pasta, deglaze your skillet with some of the reserved pasta water, then drizzle it over the pasta to ensure that all the delicious flavors are incorporated.