Description
This Best Ever Chicken Scampi recipe features tender boneless chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and tossed in a luscious garlic butter sauce with a hint of lemon and white wine. Served over your favorite cooked pasta and garnished with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, it’s a quick and elegant Italian-American dish perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Cooking Oils and Butter
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Pasta and Garnish
- 8 ounces cooked pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
- Additional grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Season and Flour Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and black pepper, then dredge them lightly in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess flour for a light coating.
- Sear Chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil until shimmering. Add the floured chicken breasts and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side until they develop a golden brown crust and are cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce Base: Lower the heat to medium and add the unsalted butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using, cooking for about 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Deglaze and Simmer Sauce: Pour in the dry white wine or chicken broth along with the freshly squeezed lemon juice. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits stuck to the skillet. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until it slightly reduces and thickens.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the flavorful sauce over them to coat well and warm through.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the chicken and sauce. Toss everything together to ensure the pasta is well coated with the garlic lemon butter sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the dish and serve immediately with additional grated Parmesan cheese on the side for extra flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute shrimp for chicken to make a classic shrimp scampi.
- For extra richness, add a splash of heavy cream to the sauce just before adding the chicken back to the skillet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
