Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender chicken and shrimp in zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce over pasta

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta

03 - 12 oz linguine or spaghetti

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
06 - Zest of 1 lemon
07 - Juice of 1 lemon
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Sauce & Fats

09 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1/4 cup dry white wine
12 - 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

13 - 1/2 tsp salt, plus extra for pasta water
14 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
15 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta in large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Pat shrimp and chicken thoroughly dry. Season both generously with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in large skillet over medium-high. Add chicken and cook 4-5 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove to plate.
04 - Add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to skillet. Cook shrimp 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer to plate with chicken.
05 - Reduce heat to medium. Add 2 tbsp butter to skillet. Sauté shallot and garlic 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
06 - Deglaze with white wine and reduce 1 minute. Add chicken broth, lemon zest, and juice. Simmer 2 minutes.
07 - Return chicken and shrimp to pan. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for consistency.
08 - Stir in parsley and red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning to taste with additional salt and pepper.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with lemon wedges and additional chopped parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The bright lemon cuts through the richness making every bite feel balanced and light
  • Both proteins cook in the same skillet creating layers of flavor in under 30 minutes
  • The pasta water trick creates a silky restaurant-style sauce without any heavy cream
02 -
  • Crowding the pan when searing chicken causes steaming instead of browning so work in batches if needed
  • Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery so remove them the second they turn pink throughout
  • The sauce thickens quickly off the heat so don't reduce it too much in the pan
03 -
  • Room temperature shrimp cook more evenly than cold straight from the fridge
  • Zest your lemon before juicing it to get every bit of those aromatic oils
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