This chicken pasta in garlic basil butter sauce recipe makes for an easy gluten free dinner for busy weeknights.  Pasta and chicken is tossed with the vegetables you already have in your kitchen and drizzled in a sizzling light and creamy garlic butter sauce with extra hints of basil and lemon!

Best Basil Butter Sauce!

Chicken pasta in garlic basil butter sauce couldn't sound anymore savory and delicious could it?

Our family calls this dish just chicken pasta.

This chicken pasta recipe calls for chicken breasts nestled in some al dente gluten-free pasta.  

It sounds incredibly easy because it is.  

You basically can't mess it up even if you get distracted during crazy weeknight evenings.  

I get it.  Been there.

The garlic basil butter sauce is amazing and is truly what makes this dish so spectacular.

The savory butter soaks into the vegetables, chicken, and pasta.  The minced garlic adds so much flavor that the only other thing that is needed is some chopped fresh basil.

Like a lot.  As long as you love basil.  And since I don't know a single soul who doesn't, then everyone should put at least a few tablespoons of the fresh herb in this simple sauce.

What to pair with Chicken Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce:

Some of our families favorite things to pair with this dish are Fluffy Gluten-Free Buttermilk Biscuits, or our Bacon Walnut Brussel Sprouts recipe, and the Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots are always huge hits alongside this basil butter sauce pasta dish!

Garlic butter chicken pasta Ingredients:

• olive oil
• 2 large chicken breasts, halved, or 4 small chicken breasts
• gluten free pasta
• vegetables, chopped
• butter, (1 stick)
• minced garlic
• lemon juice
• fresh basil, chopped

How to make Basil Butter Sauce Chicken and Pasta:

For a detailed list of directions, scroll down to find the full recipe card.

A splash of lemon juice for a little hint of zest completes the sauce.

To make the buttery sauce go further you can add in more butter.... or you can add in a ladle or so of pasta water to coat the entire dish.

I like to use reserved pasta water because it's already warm, full of that delicious pasta flavor, and is slightly thickened, especially if using gluten-free pasta.

Here are the 3 easy steps!

1. In a large pot, cook pasta to al dente according to package instructions.  While your pasta is cooking, make your chicken and sauce.  Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add in chicken.
2. Cook chicken until fully cooked, flipping when necessary to cook both sides.  Add in the butter, garlic, chopped vegetables, and lemon juice.  Cook until the vegetables are bright and start to become tender, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add in the chopped basil and stir for another 30-60 seconds.  If you want more sauce add in up to ¼ cup of reserved pasta water to your sauce. Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to the skillet with the chicken and vegetables.  Toss the pasta to coat it in the sauce.  Serve the chicken pasta hot with extra fresh basil and parmesan cheese on top.  Enjoy!

What vegetables to use in basil butter sauce dish?

Vegetables:  Use whatever vegetables are in your kitchen.

My family loves it when I use mushrooms and asparagus spears in our chicken pasta.

This time around I snuck some more green in there with some chopped bell pepper.

How to store leftover basil butter sauce chicken pasta:

You can store your leftover basil butter sauce pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Make sure it has cooled down to room temperature before putting in it’s airtight container.

How to reheat basil butter sauce pasta dish:

To reheat your basil butter sauce chicken pasta, take out your refrigerated recipe and place it on a covered microwave-safe plate or dish.

Place a spoonful of butter or milk, give it a good stir, and place it in the microwave.

Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, and check to see if it needs more time.

Continue this 30 second process until your pasta dish is heated to your preferred temperature.

Then enjoy it once again!

Chicken pasta cooking tips:

1. If you are a sauce lover and want more of your chicken pasta sauce make it stretch a little bit further by adding in more butter or by adding in some warm pasta water.
2. Use whatever vegetables you have on hand for this chicken pasta dish.  Zucchini, green beans, even jalapenos are great alternatives for this recipe.
3. Need this meal done in under 20 minutes?  Sure thing!  Use fully cooked chicken and add it in when you are adding in your chopped vegetables.
4. Don't have fresh basil.  Bummer, but also no biggie.  You can use dried chopped basil.  Use up to an extra tablespoon if you feel that your final sauce needs a bit more basil.
5. Leftovers are stored best in an airtight container in the fridge.  To reheat, place in the microwave or on the stovetop with 1-2 tablespoons of extra butter or olive oil.

More insane gluten-free chicken and pasta dishes:

• Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Gluten-Free Chicken Taco Pasta
• One-Pot Rosemary Goat Cheese Chicken Pasta
• Spicy Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Spicy Lemon Honey Hot Chicken Pasta

If you make my Chicken in Easy Sauce for Pasta, let me know in the comments! Enjoy enjoy enjoy!

Also- be sure to follow me on Instagram and hashtag #BlessHerHeartYall or tag @BlessHerHeartYall – I love seeing and hearing the delicious things you make!

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This post was first published on July 12, 2017 and last updated on May 13, 2020.