Baked Creamy Lemon & Chicken Pasta



There is just something about lemon that can make any dish seem lighter, don't you think?  I don't often think to grab lemon for my fall/winter dishes but I'm glad did. Anything with the word "creamy" in it immediately sounds heavy but the lemon works its magic.
This baked pasta dish comes together super easy if you do as I did and use pre-cooked chicken.  Gosh, I love pre-cooked chicken for pasta dishes.  It saves you easily 30 minutes and makes this a nice busy weeknight meal.

 

 

Baked Creamy Lemon & Chicken Pasta

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INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb ziti or pasta of your choice
• 1/4 C butter
• 2 T olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lemon, juice and zest
• 2 C sour cream
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 t white pepper
• 2 T fresh parsley, chopped
• 9 oz pre-cooked chicken, chopped
• parmesan cheese, freshly grated for topping

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Cook pasta according to package instructions, except subtract 2 minutes from cooking time (pasta will continue to cook in oven)
3. Melt butter with olive oil over low heat.  Add garlic and lemon juice. Cook just until garlic is fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.  Remove from heat.
4. Into the butter/oil mixture stir in sour cream, lemon zest salt and pepper. When combined add chopped pre-cooked chicken and parsley.
5. Pour sauce mixture over pasta and place in a casserole dish or oven proof baking dish. 
6.  Cover and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil/cover and bake 10 minutes more.
7. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese before serving.