This post contains affiliate links. I gain a small commission at no cost to you if you choose to purchase through them. Thank you for your support!
Chicken Scampi
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 lemon sliced thinly
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons italian seasoning (or 1/2 teaspoon each rosemary, oregano, thyme and parsley)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or 3/4 teaspoon table salt)
- 8 ounces white button mushrooms sliced
- Angel hair pasta for serving
- 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
Instructions
- Put stick of butter into a 9×13 pan, and place into cold oven.
- Set oven to 375°F – remove pan with butter once butter is melted.
- While the oven finishes preheating, spread the lemon slices in an even layer over the butter.
- Scatter chicken pieces (and mushrooms if desired) on top of the lemon, then sprinkle garlic powder, salt and Italian seasoning evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Meanwhile, prepare angel hair pasta according to package directions.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove the lemon slices and toss the cooked pasta together with the chicken and butter sauce.
Obligatory Fictional Backstory
Years ago, I used to travel through Europe doing door-to-door exorcisms. On one such occasion, after expelling a particularly difficult and unpleasant demon called D’weoiihcheig, I was exhausted and famished, as was D’weoiihcheig’s unfortunate victim.
You see, demons don’t need to eat, and as such they often forget that their human hosts DO need to eat and will not consume anything for weeks at a time. Of course this bodes badly for the human host, but do the demons care? Of course not, they consider us to be nothing more than disposable meat puppets. If their current host dies, there’s like 6 billion others to choose from right? So selfish.
Anyway. This poor man hadn’t eaten in weeks, and in my worn out state I was in no position to cook anything elaborate that would take too long. I rummaged through the man’s fridge and found a few things and threw this recipe together. It’s become my go-to post exorcism meal! I hope that you enjoy it and that it will become a staple for your busy weeknights.
____________________________________
Bonus content:
I will now wax poetic about chicken scampi.
Chicken scampi
Chicken scampi
Why do they call you chicken scampi
I have heard you can be made with shrimp
But I have not ever had it that way
Because I am allergic
And also Jewish
And also think it’s gross to eat something that looks like a bug
But maybe that’s just me
Chicken scampi.
Real Talk
This is one of my absolute favorite recipes. The reason being, it’s perfect for those nights when I suddenly realize “Oh yeah! These people in my house need to eat! And I forgot to defrost anything this morning….shoot….”
I usually keep some pre-cut chicken breast in my freezer. It’s quick to defrost by submerging it in a bowl of cool water. Pre-sliced mushrooms are an additional time saver, but really I can cut up the whole ones while the chicken is defrosting, so hey! Save ten cents right?
Speaking of cutting mushrooms, I learned a trick from Alton Brown for cutting them quickly and evenly: use an egg slicer! Look for one that has blades rather than wires, it’ll be sturdier for cutting.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I’m the only person in the family who will eat the mushrooms. One of the kids used to but he caved to peer pressure and decided he doesn’t in fact like them anymore. Oh well. More for me.
For more quick weeknight meals, check out our vegetarian Quick and Easy Fried Rice recipe or the incredible Umami Chicken marinade!
Pingback: Macaroni and Cheese – Give Me The Recipe, Dammit!