
🍗My High-Protein Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta Meal Prep (Recipe in Description)
This one’s the perfect mix of garlic and lemon, and structured to be macro friendly for those high training weeks 💪 I’ll drop the recipe 👇
Macros:
Calories: 590
Protein: 52g
Carbs: 54g
Fat: 18g
Fiber: 8g
Ingredients I used…
For the Chicken:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
- 2 tsp Celtic sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 3 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil (divided)
For the Scampi Sauce:
- 8-10 cloves garlic, minced (about 3 tbsp)
- 2 large red bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced into strips
- 2 cups grass-fed chicken bone broth (or regular chicken broth)
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
- 2 tbsp lemon zest (from 2-3 lemons)
- 4 tbsp grass-fed butter OR ghee
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp Celtic sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Optional: 2 tbsp arrowroot starch + 2 tbsp cold water (for thickening)
For the Pasta:
- 16 oz whole wheat OR chickpea macaroni
- 1 tbsp olive oil (to prevent sticking)
- 1 tsp salt (for pasta water - optional)
For Garnish:
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
- Extra red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions… (tried to make it as detailed as possible for you)
Phase 1 - prep ingredients
Step 1: Slice 2 lbs chicken breasts into thin strips (about ½ inch thick).
Step 2: Season chicken strips with:
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Step 3: Toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
Step 4: Mince 8-10 cloves garlic (about 3 tbsp).
Step 5: Slice 2 red bell peppers and 1 yellow onion into thin strips.
Step 6: Juice 2-3 lemons (need ½ cup juice). Zest the lemons before juicing (need 2 tbsp zest).
Step 7: Chop ½ cup fresh parsley. (Optional)
Phase 2 - cook pasta
Step 8: Bring large pot of salted water to boil.
Step 9: Add 16 oz whole wheat angel hair or chickpea spaghetti.
Step 10: Cook according to package directions:
Step 11: Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining (in case sauce needs thinning).
Step 12: Drain pasta. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Phase 3 - cook chicken
Step 13: Heat electric skillet to 375°F (medium-high heat).
Step 14: Add 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil. Let heat until shimmering (about 1 minute).
Step 15: Add seasoned chicken strips in single layer. Don’t overcrowd - work in batches if needed.
Step 16: Cook 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
Step 17: Remove chicken to plate. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
Step 18: If cooking in batches, repeat with remaining chicken.
Phase 4: sauté variables
Step 19: Keep electric skillet at 375°F.
Step 20: Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to skillet.
Step 21: Add sliced bell peppers and onions. Sauté 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and slightly caramelized.
Step 22: Add 8-10 cloves minced garlic and 1 tsp red pepper flakes. Sauté 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant but not burned.
Step 23: Stir frequently during this step - garlic can burn quickly!
Phase 5 - Make Scampi Sauce
Step 24: Reduce heat to 325°F (medium).
Step 25: Add ½ cup bone broth. Scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan.
Step 26: Add:
- 1½ cups chicken bone broth
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Step 27: Bring to simmer. Let cook 2-3 minutes.
Step 28: Add 4 tbsp butter or ghee. Stir until melted and incorporated into sauce.
Step 29: Taste sauce. Adjust seasoning:
- Need more tang? Add more lemon juice
- Need more salt? Add ½ tsp at a time
- Need more garlic? This is your last chance to add more!
Step 30: Optional - To thicken sauce: Mix 2 tbsp arrowroot starch with 2 tbsp cold water in small bowl. Whisk slurry into sauce. Cook 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
Phase 6: combine
Step 31: Reduce heat to 275°F (low).
Step 32: Return cooked chicken to skillet with peppers and sauce. Toss to coat.
Step 33: Add cooked pasta to skillet. Toss everything together until pasta is well coated with scampi sauce.
Step 34: If sauce seems too thick, add reserved pasta water 2-3 tbsp at a time until desired consistency.
Step 35: Cook 1-2 minutes, tossing constantly, until everything is heated through and well combined.
Step 36: Turn off heat. Add to prep containers
Enjoy! I’m always sharing my recipes 💪