Cilantro Lime Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Vibrant creamy pasta with tender shredded chicken and tangy cilantro-lime yogurt sauce. Fresh and flavorful.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta and Chicken

01 - 12 oz rotini pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast, rotisserie or poached

→ 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 - Extra chopped cilantro
15 - Lime wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, combine Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, garlic, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and vibrant green.
03 - In a large bowl, toss the cooked rotini and shredded chicken with the cilantro-lime yogurt sauce until evenly coated.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with cotija or feta cheese, extra cilantro, and lime wedges if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The creamy yogurt sauce feels indulgent but packs serious protein without any heavy cream
  • Everything comes together in 40 minutes start to finish, making it perfect for weeknights when you want something special but don't have hours to cook
02 -
  • The sauce will thicken up if you refrigerate it, so thin with a splash of water or extra lime juice when reheating
  • This pasta actually tastes even better the next day because those flavors have time to really mingle and get to know each other
03 -
  • Blend the sauce for a full minute because getting it completely smooth makes the texture so much more luxurious
  • Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining because sometimes that starchy water is exactly what you need to perfect the consistency
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