Description
Bring restaurant comfort home with this Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Copycat, a quick dinner packed with juicy pan-seared chicken, tender pasta, colorful bell peppers, and a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce with fresh lemon flavor. This easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, cozy dinner ideas, family meals, and comforting food ideas when you want a satisfying pasta dish that feels special without being complicated.
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts
12 ounces spaghetti or angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1/2 red onion, sliced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Slice the chicken breasts into thinner cutlets or bite-sized pieces, then season with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
2. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
3. Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through, then transfer to a plate.
5. In the same skillet, add the remaining butter, then sauté the red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and red onion for 4 minutes until slightly tender.
6. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
7. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the skillet to loosen the browned bits.
8. Add the heavy cream, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes, then stir until smooth.
9. Add the cooked pasta and toss until coated, adding a little reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
10. Return the chicken to the skillet and let everything warm together for 1 to 2 minutes.
11. Top with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan, then serve hot.
Notes
Do not overcook the chicken or it can turn dry once reheated in the sauce.
Reserve pasta water before draining because it helps create a silky sauce texture.
Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
Keywords: Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Copycat, chicken scampi, pasta dinner, easy dinner, quick dinner, family meal, creamy chicken pasta, garlic parmesan pasta, dinner ideas, food ideas