Garlic Herb Chicken & Veg Pasta (Printable version)

Roasted garlic-herb chicken paired with fresh vegetables and penne in a light, aromatic sauce. Ready in just 50 minutes.

# What you need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ½ teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables

09 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
10 - 1 zucchini, sliced into half-moons
11 - 1 small red onion, sliced
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1 cup broccoli florets

→ Pasta

14 - 12 ounces penne pasta
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - ¼ cup reserved pasta water

→ Finish

17 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
19 - Zest of 1 lemon, optional
20 - Extra salt and pepper to taste

# Steps to follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine chicken breasts with olive oil, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat evenly.
03 - Place chicken on one side of the prepared tray. Arrange bell pepper, zucchini, onion, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli on the other side. Drizzle vegetables with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and spread in a single layer.
04 - Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and vegetables are tender. Remove from oven. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
05 - Meanwhile, cook penne in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.
06 - In a large skillet over medium heat, combine cooked pasta, roasted vegetables, sliced chicken, and reserved pasta water. Toss gently to combine and heat through.
07 - Stir in Parmesan, fresh parsley, and lemon zest if using. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The roasted vegetables develop this sweetness that balances perfectly with the savory chicken
  • Everything cooks on one sheet pan while the pasta boils, so cleanup is almost nonexistent
  • The fresh lemon zest at the end wakes up the entire dish and makes it feel restaurant quality
02 -
  • If your chicken breasts are very thick pound them slightly so they cook at the same rate as the vegetables
  • The pasta water trick is what transforms this from a dry pasta dish into something silky and cohesive
  • Lemon zest is not just for decoration, it actually balances the roasted flavors and makes everything taste brighter
03 -
  • Spread vegetables in a single layer with space between them, overcrowding leads to steaming instead of roasting
  • Let the chicken rest before slicing, this keeps all those juices inside instead of on your cutting board
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