Greek Chicken Feta Pasta Skillet (Printable)

Tender lemon chicken meets creamy feta yogurt sauce and fresh spinach in this vibrant Mediterranean skillet pasta.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Pasta & Sauce

08 - 10 oz short pasta such as penne or fusilli
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing
10 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
11 - 3.5 oz baby spinach
12 - 4 oz crumbled feta cheese
13 - ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
14 - ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water
15 - ½ teaspoon dried dill optional
16 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

17 - Lemon wedges
18 - Fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour for enhanced flavor.
02 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.
03 - While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook until golden and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add chopped red onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
05 - Add spinach to the skillet and cook until just wilted, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
06 - Return the cooked chicken to the pan. Lower the heat to medium-low.
07 - Stir in cooked pasta, crumbled feta, Greek yogurt, and ½ cup reserved pasta water. Toss until the sauce is creamy and coats the pasta. Add more pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
08 - Season with black pepper and dill if using. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with lemon wedges and fresh parsley.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying your meal with the people you love.
  • The creamy feta-yogurt sauce is tangy and rich without feeling heavy, thanks to the Greek yogurt doing all the smart work.
  • It's flexible enough to use whatever protein or pasta shape you have on hand, so there's no excuse not to make it tonight.
02 -
  • Greek yogurt can split if the heat is too high after you add it, so keep the pan on medium-low and stir gently; I learned this the messy way when I tried to finish on high heat and ended up with separated bits instead of a smooth sauce.
  • The pasta water is not just water; it's an emulsion helper that makes the sauce cling to the pasta, so don't skip reserving it or your dish will feel dry no matter how much yogurt you added.
03 -
  • Don't skip the marinade step even if you're in a rush; those 10 minutes transform plain chicken into something deeply flavorful, and the lemon juice actually helps tenderize the meat slightly.
  • Buy feta in blocks and crumble it yourself if you can, because pre-crumbled feta contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting into that dreamy creamy texture you're after.
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