Roasted Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta

Instructions

1. Prepare Vegetables for Roasting

   4 min hands-on

   • Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F).
   • Slice yellow peppers into large chunks, quarter the onion, and halve the lemon. Place on a baking tray with lemon halves cut-side down.
   • Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.

2. Roast the Vegetables

   38 min waiting

   • Roast vegetables in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes until peppers are slightly charred and lemon is caramelized.

3. Cook the Pasta

   2 min hands-on10 min waiting

   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook whole-grain pasta until al dente, following package instructions.
   • Drain pasta and reserve some pasta water for later use.

4. Prepare the Chicken

   2 min hands-on18 min waiting

   • Season chicken breasts with salt, black pepper, and chili powder.
   • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown.
   • Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook for an additional 5–7 minutes until chicken reaches 74°C (165°F). Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.

5. Blend Roasted Vegetables

   3 min hands-on

   • Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender. Squeeze roasted lemon halves to extract juice, discarding seeds.
   • Add garlic, vinegar, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth, adding reserved pasta water if needed for consistency.

6. Combine Pasta and Sauce

   2 min hands-on

   • In the pot used for pasta, add blended sauce and drained pasta. Toss over low heat to coat evenly.
   • Add reserved pasta water as needed for a silky texture.

7. Add the Chicken

   2 min hands-on

   • Incorporate sliced chicken strips into the pasta and sauce mixture. Toss to combine.

8. Garnish and Serve

   1 min hands-on

   • Transfer pasta and chicken to serving plates. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve warm with an optional lemon wedge.
   • Cooking tips:
   • For an extra smoky flavor, lightly char the peppers over an open flame before roasting.
   • Adjust the spice level by increasing or decreasing the chili powder to suit your taste.
   • When blending the sauce, taste and adjust the seasoning to balance the flavors.
   • Let the chicken rest after cooking to retain its juices and ensure moist, flavorful slices.