Chicken Pasta Primavera Easy Fresh Dinner for Busy Nights
This Chicken Pasta Primavera is a colorful and healthy meal perfect for a quick chicken dinner or family dinner. It combines fresh vegetables and tender pasta for an easy dinner and weeknight meal that everyone will enjoy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian-American
- Diet: Standard
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz penne or rotini whole wheat optional
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt + pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil for chicken
- 1 red bell pepper sliced thin
- 1 zucchini halved and sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup snap peas or green beans
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil for sauce
- 1/2 lemon juice of
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1/3 cup reserved pasta water
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta as directed on the package until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, season the chicken with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and fully cooked, about 6 to 8 minutes, then set aside.
- In the same skillet, add more olive oil if needed, then cook the bell pepper, zucchini, broccoli, and snap peas until just tender, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Add garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and cherry tomatoes, cooking for 2 more minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, push the vegetables aside, and melt butter and olive oil in the pan.
- Combine the cooked pasta, chicken, parmesan, lemon juice, and some reserved pasta water, tossing everything together until silky and combined, adding more pasta water if the mixture seems dry.
- Serve with extra parmesan, fresh parsley or basil, and a squeeze of lemon.
Notes
- Vegetarian Option: Omit chicken and add chickpeas or white beans
- Gluten-Free: Use lentil pasta or spaghetti squash
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450