Chimichurri Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender grilled chicken meets perfectly cooked pasta in a fresh herb and garlic chimichurri sauce for a vibrant fusion dish.

# What You Need:

→ Chimichurri Sauce

01 - 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
02 - 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
05 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
06 - 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
07 - 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
08 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Chicken

10 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Pasta

15 - 12 oz penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti
16 - Salt for pasta water

→ Garnish

17 - Extra chopped fresh parsley
18 - Lemon wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine parsley, oregano, garlic, shallot, red pepper flakes, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly and set aside to allow flavors to meld for at least 15 minutes.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, then season evenly with smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper on both sides.
03 - Heat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into strips.
04 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain well.
05 - Toss hot pasta with sliced chicken and chimichurri sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to coat evenly. Garnish with additional parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chimichurri transforms ordinary pasta into something restaurant-worthy with almost no extra effort
  • You can make the sauce ahead of time and it actually gets better as it sits
  • Its dairy-free but nobody will miss the cream because the herbs provide such incredible flavor
02 -
  • The chimichurri needs at least 15 minutes to rest so the harsh raw garlic flavor mellows and integrates with the herbs
  • Do not rinse the pasta after draining, the starch helps the sauce cling to every piece
  • Leftovers actually taste amazing cold the next day, making it perfect for meal prep
03 -
  • Fine-chop your herbs by hand instead of using a food processor, which can bruise them and make the sauce bitter
  • Season your pasta water aggressively, it should taste like the ocean, this is the only chance to season the actual pasta
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