Chicken Scampi

Chicken Scampi Recipe – Tender chicken tenderloins pan-seared to golden perfection and simmered in a luscious lemon garlic sauce with a hint of white wine; this dish is a flavor explosion waiting to happen. Toss it all together with your favorite pasta and garnish with Parmesan cheese for a truly unforgettable dining experience.

cooking chicken in lemon sauce and pasta in a skillet with tongs with text overlay

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Lemon Butter Chicken Pasta

Stop what you are doing and add this Chicken Scampi recipe to your menu. OMG! It is SO delicious! Tender chicken simmered in a quick garlic butter wine sauce and tossed in pasta. Garnish the pasta with some freshly grated parmesan cheese, and you have a meal that rivals any Italian restaurant! It’s comfort food with a gourmet twist, and it’s sure to leave you wanting seconds.

cooking chicken in lemon sauce in a skillet with tongs

How to Make Chicken Scampi

This chicken dish is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Season chicken tenderloins with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3 minutes on each side until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Heat unsalted butter in the same skillet. Add minced garlic and cook over medium heat until fragrant. Add white wine and cook until it is reduced by half. Stir in lemon juice, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add chicken back to the skillet and simmer on medium-low heat until the chicken is warm. Serve the chicken and garlic butter sauce over your favorite al dente pasta. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can use any uncooked chicken in this dish. Chicken breast, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins all work fine. 
  • I use Pinot Grigio wine in this dish. Any white wine works great – sauvignon blanc or chardonnay.
    • Can substitute chicken broth.
  • You can serve the chicken with any pasta. Spaghetti or angel hair pasta are our favorites.
  • Variations/Additions:
    • red onion
    • bell peppers
    • Italian seasoning
    • thyme
    • splash of heavy cream
    • capers
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
chicken on top of lemon pasta

What to Serve with Olive Garden Chicken Scampi

This chicken pasta has been on repeat at our house. It is great for a quick and easy weeknight meal or dinner with friends. When it comes to what to serve alongside this dish, the possibilities are endless! A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing can provide a refreshing contrast to the savory chicken and pasta. Steamed or roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, or green beans, add a healthy and colorful touch to the plate. And of course, a slice of warm, crusty bread or garlic knots to mop up that divine lemon garlic sauce is always a winning choice. Whether you opt for a side salad, veggies, or bread, this dish is sure to earn a spot in your dinner rotation!

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cooking chicken in lemon sauce and pasta in a skillet with tongs with text overlay

Chicken Scampi

Yield: 4 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Chicken Scampi Recipe – Tender chicken tenderloins pan-seared to golden perfection and simmered in a luscious lemon garlic sauce with a hint of white wine; this dish is a flavor explosion waiting to happen. Toss it all together with your favorite pasta and garnish with Parmesan cheese for a truly unforgettable dining experience.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  • Season chicken tenderloins with salt and pepper.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3 minutes on each side until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  • Heat butter in the same skillet. Add minced garlic and cook over medium heat until fragrant. Add white wine and cook until it is reduced by half, 3-5 minutes..
  • Add lemon juice, salt, pepper, parsley, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Add chicken back to the skillet and simmer on medium-low heat until the chicken is warm.
  • Serve the chicken and garlic butter sauce over your favorite al dente pasta. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Notes:

  • You can use any uncooked chicken in this dish. Chicken breast, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins all work fine. 
  • I use Pinot Grigio wine in this dish. Any white wine works great – sauvignon blanc or chardonnay.
    • Can substitute chicken broth.
  • You can serve the chicken with any pasta. Spaghetti or angel hair pasta are our favorites.
  • Variations/Additoins:
    • red onion
    • bell peppers
    • Italian seasoning
    • thyme
    • splash of heavy cream
    • capers
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Steph

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Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!

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cooking chicken in lemon sauce in a skillet with tongs with text overlay
chicken on top of lemon pasta with text overlay

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Comments

  1. Just finished this for dinner. This was really delish!!!
    BUT…next time I will decrease the amount of salt. My husband's blood pressure is about to go through the roof! LOL!

  2. Hey, thanks for sharing this! I never thought to add chicken! One of my children doesn't care for shrimp and just eats everything else but now I know I can sub in chicken!
    ~ingrid

  3. Yum! This looks very good! I can see how it would taste like chicken picatta and I'm going to put it with my "recipes to try" stack. Nice post!

  4. Oooh. I just had a flash. I think I could make this with seitan. It won't be AS good, I know – but I bet it would be OK.

  5. This reminds me of when I was first learning to cook for my new family of 4 fifteen years ago. I loved shrimp scampi but had chicken on hand and came up with a family favorite.

    I haven't made it in years. I'm looking forward to it again. Great post.

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