Cilantro Lime Chicken Pasta (Printable Page)

Vibrant pasta with shredded chicken in a fresh cilantro-lime yogurt sauce. Easy, high-protein dinner for four.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta and Chicken

01 - 12 oz rotini pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast

→ Cilantro-Lime Yogurt Sauce

03 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
04 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
06 - 1 teaspoon lime zest
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Garnishes

13 - 1/4 cup cotija or feta cheese, crumbled
14 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - Lime wedges

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in colander and set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, combine Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and vibrant green in color.
03 - Transfer cooked rotini and shredded chicken to a large mixing bowl. Pour cilantro-lime yogurt sauce over the mixture and toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Taste the pasta and adjust salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
05 - Transfer to serving dishes immediately. Top with crumbled cotija or feta cheese, additional chopped cilantro, and lime wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The creamy yogurt sauce somehow manages to feel rich and indulgent while being lighter than a traditional cream sauce
  • It comes together in about 20 minutes flat, making it perfect for those weeknights when you want something special but dont have hours to spend at the stove
02 -
  • The sauce will seem quite thick when you first make it, but it thins out beautifully when it hits the hot pasta
  • This pasta is best served immediately, but it actually makes a fantastic cold pasta salad the next day if you have leftovers
03 -
  • Don't skip the lime zest, it contains all those aromatic citrus oils that give the sauce its restaurant quality flavor
  • If making this ahead, undercook the pasta by just a minute since it will continue to soften as it sits in the sauce
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