Lemon Chicken Pasta with Kale

I love savory pasta with lemon, so I’m excited to share this easy pasta dinner idea with you: Lemon Chicken Pasta with Kale!

It’s so easy to make, bright in flavor and full of veggies. Sliced rotisserie chicken adds protein without the extra work—but you can omit it if you’d like.

This pasta recipe is so versatile and perfect for busy weeknights.

Lemon Kale Pasta with Shredded Chicken

During the week, I rely on simple but healthy recipes that don’t take much time to prepare, but don’t skimp on taste either. These Lemon Kale Pasta with Shredded Chicken are exactly what I’m talking about!

You don’t need many ingredients to prepare it and you can easily use whatever you have on hand. If you’re vegetarian or don’t have chicken, just omit it or substitute another protein source like chickpeas.

Don’t have any kale? Use spinach, chard, cooked broccoli, or other green or cruciferous vegetables.

The sauce is also made from simple but delicious ingredients: just garlic, lemon zest/juice, grated parmesan and some pasta water to get the right consistency.

recipe ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these Lemon Cabbage Pasta:

shredded chicken (I like to use a rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken here to save time, but you can certainly broil or pan-fry the chicken while you cook the pasta if you like! Feel free to omit this if you want to keep this recipe vegetarian.)
pasta (I love whole-wheat penne, but any type of pasta should work! You can easily make this recipe gluten-free by using chickpea or quinoa pasta, or any other type of gluten-free pasta.)
Lemons (You’ll need lemon zest and fresh lemon juice here – both are must-haves as they add a lot of flavor.)
Kale (Or spinach, chard, etc.)
cherry tomatoes
Garlic
grated parmesan cheese
olive oil

Looking for more delicious pasta recipes? Here are some of my favorite ways to make mix and match pasta dishes!

How to make Lemon Chicken Pasta

To prepare this pasta dish, start by cooking the chicken (if not using pre-cooked chicken). You can cook it as you like, e.g. B. bake, boil or cook in a slow cooker or instant pot. (How to Make Frozen Chicken Breasts in an Instant Pot). Let it rest for 5-10 minutes.

Next, bring water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to package directions. (When draining the pasta, be sure to save at least 1/2 cup of pasta water for later sauce preparation.)

Meanwhile, remove the stalks from the kale and chop the leaves (just add the leaves to the bowl—the stalks are too tough and bitter to eat). Shred the chicken with two forks.

While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet with a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat.

Add 2 cloves of garlic, grated or minced, to the pan along with the chopped kale and cherry tomatoes. Cook until the kale has wilted and the tomatoes have softened.

Add the zest and juice of one lemon, 2 cups shredded chicken, the cooked noodles, and about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water.

Stir and then simmer until the sauce is the desired thickness.

Once done, remove from heat and serve with grated Parmesan cheese. If you want to add some spice, sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top!

storage tips

To store these lemon pasta, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.

cooking tips

Here are some tips to ensure this recipe turns out perfectly:

Avoid overcooking the pasta, especially if you want leftovers. Nobody likes soggy pasta! Follow the directions on the pasta package, which will tell you how to cook the pasta al dente.
If you cook the chicken yourself, avoid overcooking it (chicken that is overcooked will be very dry and not tasty). I highly recommend using a meat thermometer no matter how you plan to cook it. Also, make sure you let it sit for 5-10 minutes after removing it from the heat. If you shred/cut it too soon you will run out of juice.
Don’t forget to save some pasta water when draining the pasta. This will help the sauce get the right consistency; Normal water is too liquid.
Don’t skip the lemon! It gives the dish an essential flavor and brightens it up.

What to serve with Lemon Kale Pasta

This chicken pasta recipe is great on its own or to serve with your favorite side dishes! Here are a few ideas:

This is definitely one of our favorite weeknight meals and I hope it becomes a new favorite for you too! You can easily combine it with different types of vegetables, pasta types or meat (e.g. ground chicken or ground turkey). Enjoy! 🙂

More easy and delicious pasta recipes to try:

And if you end up with even more chicken, check out this post with 11 ways to eat fried chicken!