Chimichurri Grilled Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Grilled chicken meets al dente pasta in this vibrant, herb-forward fusion dish with zesty chimichurri sauce.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 1.1 pounds)
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 ounces penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti
16 - Salt for pasta water

→ Garnish

17 - Extra chopped fresh parsley
18 - Lemon wedges

# How to Make:

01 - Combine parsley, oregano, garlic, shallot, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Add extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, then season with salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly and set aside to allow flavors to meld for 10 minutes.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
03 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, approximately 8-12 minutes depending on shape. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
04 - Toss hot pasta with chimichurri sauce, adding reserved pasta water gradually to achieve desired consistency. Arrange pasta on serving plates and top with sliced grilled chicken. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chimichurri transforms simple grilled chicken into something restaurant worthy with almost zero effort
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day as the sauce really soaks into everything
  • You get that fresh herb punch without needing any fancy techniques or hard to find ingredients
02 -
  • The chimichurri sauce needs time to develop, do not skip letting it sit for at least 30 minutes
  • Reserving pasta water is not optional, it is what helps the sauce cling to every piece of pasta
  • Do not rinse your pasta after draining or the sauce will slide right off
03 -
  • Use a food processor to chop the herbs if you want a smoother sauce, though hand chopped has better texture
  • Taste your chimichurri before serving, parsley varies in bitterness so adjust the salt and acid accordingly
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