Enjoy a simple and tasty meal with this Chicken Zucchini Pasta Skillet, featuring chicken, zucchini, lemon, rotini pasta, and basil.
Another easy weeknight dinner is this Instant Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta, it's kid-friendly and it's a great recipe with tender chicken with a flavorful basil sauce.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: This recipe comes together quickly, making it great for a busy weeknight dinner.
- Healthy ingredients: Packed with lean protein from the chicken and nutrients from the zucchini and lemon, this recipe is on the healthier side.
- Kid Friendly: This easy dinner is a recipe the whole family can agree on.
- Flavorful: With the flavor combinations of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and basil, this dinner is light and refreshing.
Ingredients in Chicken Zucchini Pasta Skillet
- rotini pasta
- boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped
- olive oil
- large fresh zucchini, sliced
- red wine vinegar
- minced garlic
- chicken broth
- dried basil (can you fresh basil also)
- salt and pepper, to taste
How to Make This Chicken Zucchini Pasta Recipe
- Cut the chicken breast into 1-inch pieces. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook over medium heat until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides.
- Slice the zucchini, and add it to the skillet as well as the minced garlic, sauteeing lightly.
- Add the rotini pasta and pour in the chicken broth and the red wine vinegar.
- Combine the broth with the rest of the ingredients, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium low, stir, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid, stir the pasta skillet, and garnish with freshly sliced lemons.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Serve with parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, green onions, fresh parsley, and fresh basil if desired.
Substitutions and Variations
- Pasta Variations: Orzo pasta, whole wheat, gluten-free, or legume-based pasta are great alternatives when making this pasta skillet. Ensure to follow the recipe directions to avoid mushy pasta.
- Protein Variations: Swap lean chicken breasts for plump chicken sausages, chicken thighs, shrimp, or tofu.
- Herbs: For simplicity, dried basil is used in this recipe but can easily be substituted for fresh basil, or even a few tablespoons of basil pesto. Italian seasoning can also be used in place of dried basil in this pasta dish.
- Veggies: Customize the veggies in this recipe to your liking, Bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, green beans, and yellow squash are all great veggie choices for this zucchini chicken pasta.
- Make it creamy: Add a bit of heavy cream at the very end and stir into the chicken mixture to make a creamy version of this chicken zucchini pasta recipe.
FAQ's
Yes, you can use frozen zucchini. Make sure to thaw and drain it well to remove excess moisture before sautéing and retain the zucchini texture preventing mushy zucchini.
Other spiral shaped pasta are great options when making this pasta dish. Follow the package instructions to cook the pasta to al dente.
This pasta skillet can be made low carb by substituting the rotini pasta for zucchini noodles (zoodles).
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📖 Recipe
Chicken Zucchini Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotini pasta - uncooked
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts - chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large zucchini - sliced
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 ½ cup chicken broth - low sodium
- salt and pepper - to taste
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into 1-inch pieces. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and cook over medium heat until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides.
- Slice the zucchini, and add it to the skillet as well as the minced garlic, sauteeing lightly.
- Add the rotini pasta and pour in the chicken broth and the red wine vinegar.
- Combine the broth with the rest of the ingredients, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium low, stir, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid, stir the pasta skillet, and garnish with freshly sliced lemons.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Serve with parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, green onions, fresh parsley, and fresh basil if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
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