Cilantro Lime Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Vibrant creamy pasta with tender chicken in a fresh cilantro-lime yogurt sauce. Ready in 40 minutes for an easy, flavorful dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta and Chicken

01 - 12 ounces 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

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a 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 pasta and shredded chicken to a large mixing bowl. Pour cilantro-lime sauce over the mixture and toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Taste the dish and adjust salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
05 - Transfer to serving plates immediately. Top with crumbled cotija or feta cheese, additional fresh cilantro, and lime wedges if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The creamy yogurt sauce delivers that restaurant-style indulgence without any heavy cream
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for those exhausting weekdays
  • The leftovers taste even better the next day, if they last that long
02 -
  • The sauce thickens as it sits, so don't panic if it looks slightly thin right after blending
  • Serve this dish immediately because the yogurt sauce can break down if left too long at room temperature
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the sauce separate and toss everything just before serving
03 -
  • Use room temperature yogurt to prevent the sauce from seizing when you blend it
  • Save some pasta water before draining, a splash can loosen the sauce if it gets too thick
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