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Chicken Asparagus Pasta Recipe

No other food is as comforting and filling as a pasta dish like our creamy Chicken Asparagus Pasta. It’s an easy chicken carbonara pasta recipe when you top it with a poached egg!

Most of the lemon chicken asparagus pasta dishes I’ve seen are cream and butter-based dishes but this one is not. The individual ingredients of this dish shine through and are the star here. This pasta is not overwhelmed by a heavy sauce.

Top down photo of a bowl of fettuccine pasta topped with grilled chicken, asparagus and grated cheese.

How to make Chicken Asparagus Pasta

Our chicken carbonara pasta has a few steps but comes together very easily. You will not be disappointed by this dish.

Begin by cooking your chicken. We’ve provided instructions on the recipe card for how to bake chicken, but you can also use grilled or pan-fried chicken, or even use up leftover cooked chicken you have on hand.

In a separate pan, crisp up the pancetta and then a quick cook of the onion, garlic, and asparagus.

Boil your pasta for 1-2 minutes less than is recommended on the package to ensure a nice al dente for your chicken asparagus pasta.

Once the pasta is ready, you can assemble the dish. Stir in all of the ingredients into the cooked pasta, and then layer with cooked chicken on top. If you are using diced chicken, you can just stir that right in with everything else.

3/4 angle of a bowl of cooked fettuccine pasta topped with slices of grilled chicken and dusted with grated cheese.

Ingredients

  • Chicken breast. Baked, grilled or fried. We’ve also used boneless skinless chicken thighs.
  • Fettuccine. You can use the shape of your choice in this dish. We chose fettuccine.
  • Pecorino cheese. Grated. A flavorful hard cheese made from sheep’s milk and aged.
  • Parmesan cheese. In order to be true parmesan Reggiano, it must be made from the milk of cows which have been grazing on grass or hay. Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds flavor and saltiness to any dish.
  • Asparagus stalks. Five diced stalks. I love to use fresh asparagus from the Farmer’s Market when it’s crisp and delicious.
  • Garlic. minced.
  • Yellow onion. A diced onion adds essential flavor to every meal. Yellow onions are mild.
  • Pancetta. Diced. Pancetta is an Italian cut of meat similar to bacon. It is salami and is cured pork belly. Pancetta has usually been smoked or cured. If you cannot find pancetta where you live, use bacon instead. When using bacon, you will need to add the time it takes to pre-cook the bacon a bit so that it has time to crisp up as the dish is made.
  • Lemon. half of a lemon, squeezed. If you cannot find fresh lemons, you can substitute lemon juice from a bottle.
  • Salt and Pepper.

Tips for Making Creamy Chicken Asparagus Pasta

To get the proper consistency of the pasta, undercook it for a minute or two under what the package instructions advise. That will prevent this dish from being mushy and unappetizing.

Use leftover grilled chicken. You can even grab a rotisserie chicken in a time crunch. Whenever I know I will be making this dish, will throw another piece of chicken on the grill a day or two before to have it ready.

To make this dish creamy, stir in a little pasta water after all of the ingredients have been combined with the exception of the topped chicken and/or poached egg.

Close up of the yolk of a poached egg running over fettuccine pasta and grilled chicken.
Make it Chicken Asparagus Pasta Carbonara

Variations on the Lemon Chicken Asparagus Pasta

A poached egg would this dish a delicious Chicken Asparagus Carbonara.

Grating your own cheese makes a huge difference in the flavor and texture of a dish. Store-bought grated cheese has anti-caking agents mixed in which add unpleasant flavors and change how the cheese melts and blends in with other ingredients.

This recipe uses two different kinds of cheese, but you can use one or the other if you can’t find both.

We like our pancetta with a little crunch but not too crispy so it holds up when we stir it into the dish. To keep it from overcooking, we remove it from the skillet to keep it from cooking further. The delicious pancetta oil left behind adds a delicious flavor to the onion and asparagus.

We use fettuccine because it’s a hardy pasta that can hold its own when topped with chicken. You can experiment with all kinds of different pasta shapes for this recipe. Each pasta shape introduces its own unique texture to the dish. Try one of these for an interesting change of pace.

  • Angel Hair
  • Penne
  • Bucatini
  • Bow Tie
  • Rigatoni
  • Shells

How to Store Leftovers

If you end up having leftover chicken carbonara pasta to save for later using an air-tight container to keep it safe in the fridge for a few days. Reheat the dish in a hot skillet, or microwave if necessary. You can add a bit of water to the bottom of the bowl or pan to help plump up the pasta. I do not recommend freezing this chicken asparagus pasta, since the cheese may absorb odors or change in texture.

More Pasta Dishes to Try

Pin this easy Pasta recipe

Two photo collage for Pinterest. The top photo is of a bowl of fettuccine topped with grilled chicken. The bottom photo shows a poached egg running over the pasta and chicken.

Equipment You May Need

If you like this recipe, we would appreciate your comment and a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!

Here’s more Farmer’s Market Week Recipes

Starters and Sauce Recipes

Side Dishes Recipes

Main Dish Recipes

Dessert Recipes

Top down photo of a bowl of fettuccine pasta topped with grilled chicken.

Chicken Asparagus Pasta

Author: Julie Menghini
No other food is as comforting and filling as a pasta dish like our creamy Chicken Asparagus Pasta. It's a chicken carbonara pasta with when you add a poached egg!
5 from 14 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Chicken, Main Dish, Pasta
Cuisine American
Keyword: Chicken, Pasta
Servings: 6

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 lb chicken breast boneless, skinless, cooked
  • 16 oz fettuccine pasta
  • 1/2 cup pecorino cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 5 asparagus stalks diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 4 oz pancetta diced
  • 1/2 lemon
  • salt and pepper

egg – optional for carbonara version

Instructions
 

  • To bake the chicken, preheat the oven to 450°F. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Chicken can also be grilled or pan fried.
  • In a small saucepan add olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot add sliced pancetta.  Cook until crisp (just a couple minutes).  Watch it closely.  When cooked remove from the pan using a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Add the onion to the oil in the hot saucepan and cook for 2 minutes and then add the diced asparagus and the garlic and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until garlic is lightly browned and the asparagus is a bright green.  Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
  • Cook the pasta for 1 to 2 minutes less than what the package recommends. We want an al dente pasta.

Assembly

  • When pasta is cooked, put it in a large bowl.  Do not rinse the pasta.  Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
  • Stir in the onion, asparagus, and garlic mixture. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon and toss the ingredients together. Add the grated cheese and pancetta and stir to combine. Stir in the pasta water a little bit at a time until the pasta is creamy.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Top with the cooked chicken and poached egg if using and serve.

Notes

Tips: This recipe gives the boil and shock method of making the pasta. You can also either grill or bake the pasta with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Use leftover grilled chicken. You can even grab a rotisserie chicken in a time crunch. Whenever I know I will be making this dish, will throw another piece of chicken on the grill a day or two before to have it ready.
To make this dish creamy, stir in a little pasta water after all of the ingredients have been combined with the exception of the topped chicken and/or poached egg.

Nutrition

Calories: 524kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 35gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 452mgPotassium: 571mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 233IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 220mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Farmer’s Market Week is always the first week in August. Whether you have a great local farm stand or market, are a member of a CSA or purchase your fruits and vegetables at the supermarket, follow our Pinterest board, for great recipes including those for appetizers, drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and more.
5 from 14 votes (1 rating without comment)
Recipe Rating




Janelle

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

BIG HIT at dinner! Even the kids liked it!

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 4th of October 2023

Thank you, Janelle! That's definitely a win.

Jeannie

Thursday 11th of May 2023

What do I do with the 1/2 lemon.

Julie Menghini

Friday 12th of May 2023

Thanks for your inquiry, Jeannie! I squeeze the lemon over the ingredients during assembly and have updated the recipe card to clarify.

MinShien

Tuesday 30th of November 2021

So quick and simple and delicious! Everyone loved it.

Julie Menghini

Tuesday 30th of November 2021

Thank you!

Ellen

Tuesday 10th of August 2021

Wow this looks delicious! I love the egg! It takes the dish over the top.

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 11th of August 2021

Thank you, Ellen! It does make a big difference.

Amy Nash

Tuesday 10th of August 2021

This is my kind of pasta with all the things! And that egg with a runny yolk on top is just incredible! Love it!

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 11th of August 2021

Thank you, Amy!

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