Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Savory Parmesan Linguine

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
3 tbsp butter, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
For the Parmesan Linguine:
8 oz linguine
2 tbsp butter
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Directions:

Cook the linguine according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain and set aside.
Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tbsp butter. Stir in the garlic, lemon zest, and juice, cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Return the chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the lemon garlic butter sauce. Remove from heat and garnish with parsley.
For the linguine, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the heavy cream and garlic powder, stirring until smooth. Gradually mix in the Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Adjust the consistency with the reserved pasta water if needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the cooked linguine to the sauce, tossing to coat evenly.
Serve the chicken bites alongside the creamy Parmesan linguine. Garnish with additional parsley and grated Parmesan if desired.
Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4