Garlic Butter Chicken Scampi with Lemon and Parsley

This Chicken Scampi is a light, flavorful weeknight pasta dinner that’s high in protein and comes together in under 30 minutes. It combines juicy chicken breast, garlic, lemon, and a buttery white wine sauce tossed with whole wheat angel hair and fresh spinach for a satisfying, family-friendly meal.

Chicken Scampi

This easy Chicken Scampi is a high-protein twist on the classic shrimp scampi—made with chicken breast, plenty of garlic, bright lemon, a touch of butter, and a splash of dry white wine (or broth). It’s quick to make, family-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights.

How to Make Chicken Scampi

Follow these clear steps to prepare a quick, protein-packed Chicken Scampi. The method is straightforward: cook the pasta, brown the chicken, make a garlic‑butter wine sauce, then toss everything together with spinach and lemon.

Recipe Card — Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 8 ounces whole wheat angel hair pasta (or your preferred pasta)
• 24 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3 breasts), cut into ½‑inch cubes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Olive oil spray or 1–2 teaspoons olive oil for the pan
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• ¾ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
• ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley, plus extra for garnish
• Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the pasta.
2. Cut the chicken into ½‑inch cubes and season both sides with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and about ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
3. Heat a very large skillet over high heat. When hot, spray or lightly oil the pan and add half the chicken. Cook until browned on all sides and no longer pink inside, about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken. Reduce heat under the skillet.
4. Add ½ tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and melt. Add the sliced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Pour in the white wine or broth, add the crushed red pepper flakes and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan and simmer until the liquid reduces by half, about 2 minutes.
6. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook just until they begin to soften, about 1 minute.
7. Stir in the remaining 1½ tablespoons butter and the lemon juice, then remove the pan from the heat.
8. Cook the pasta to al dente according to package directions, reserving ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
9. Toss the drained pasta with the cooked chicken, spinach, and the sauce in the skillet. If the sauce needs loosening, add a little reserved pasta water to coat everything evenly. Finish with chopped parsley and plenty of grated Parmesan.

Variations

• Swap the protein: Use shrimp instead of chicken for a more traditional scampi; shrimp cooks in just minutes.
• Gluten-free: Substitute your favorite gluten-free angel hair or spaghetti.
• Extra vegetables: Add sautéed zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers for more color and fiber.
• Broth instead of wine: Use chicken broth to keep the dish alcohol-free while preserving depth of flavor.
• Make it spicy: Increase the crushed red pepper flakes or add a splash of hot sauce.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t overcrowd the pan: Brown the chicken in batches to get a good sear and avoid steaming.
• Wine vs. broth: Dry white wine adds a classic depth; chicken broth is an excellent non‑alcoholic substitute.
• Reserve pasta water: A few tablespoons of starchy pasta water will help the sauce cling to the pasta.
• Use tongs to toss: Tongs help coat the angel hair evenly and keep the spinach tucked into the warm sauce.

More Weeknight Pasta Dinners

If you enjoyed this Chicken Scampi, try other quick pasta dinners for weeknights such as pasta with broccoli, pasta alla vodka with chicken, chicken pasta primavera, Cajun chicken pasta, or pasta with Italian chicken sausage and greens. These dishes are simple, family-friendly, and great for meal planning.