One-Pan Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken and Asparagus

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1 can low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 3/4 cups water
• 10 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb thin stalks asparagus, tough ends trimmed, remaining diced into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 4 oz Neufchatel cheese, 1/3 less fat cream cheese, diced into eight pieces
• 1/2 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional

Directions

1. Warm the olive oil in a 12-inch saute pan set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and cook until the underside is browned, about 4 minutes. Turn the pieces and continue cooking until the chicken is done, about 4 minutes more. Move the chicken to a piece of foil, wrap it to hold in the heat, and set it aside.
2. Add the butter to the same empty skillet and let it melt. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds, then pour in the broth and water, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom as you stir. Add salt and pepper to taste and bring the liquid to a boil, then stir in the pasta. Cover the pan and keep it boiling, stirring now and then, until the pasta is nearly tender, about 8 – 9 minutes.
3. Scatter the asparagus over the pasta without stirring it in. Put the lid back on and continue boiling for 4 – 5 minutes longer, until both the asparagus and pasta are tender. There should still be a little broth and water in the pan when it is done, since that liquid becomes the sauce. Add more broth if needed.
4. Stir in the Neufchatel cheese, parmesan cheese, lemon juice and lemon zest until the cheeses melt into the sauce. Add the chicken back to the pan and stir to combine.
5. Take the pan off the heat, cover it, and let it sit for a few minutes if desired so the sauce can thicken slightly and settle into the pasta. Finish with parsley if desired, and serve warm.