Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Linguine

I love the flavor combination of fresh basil and lemon. Add linguine and a little butter and you have a sensational, light summer dish that's perfect for any night of the week - whether it's a busy Tuesday, or casual Saturday. I topped the linguine with perfectly grilled chicken, but you could also do a seafood version with salmon, tuna or shrimp. And since the grill pan was out (and hot), I threw on some mini peppers too!

This is sure to become your go-to recipe for summer. You can grill the chicken while assembling the linguine, and everything will come together in less than 30 minutes.

Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Linguine
Note: After I seared the chicken on both sides, I sliced it and grilled the slices (for added grill flavor). That's why you see grill marks on the slices. You can keep the chicken whole and slice it just before serving. 

Cooking spray
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, about 4 ounces each
Salt and ground black pepper
12 ounces linguine, or any pasta shape
2 tablespoons butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Salt and ground black pepper

Coat an outdoor grill or stovetop grill pan with cooking spray and preheat to medium-high. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the hot pan. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes, until cooked through (165 degrees). When cool enough to handle, slice crosswise into thin slices.
Meanwhile, cook the linguine according to the package directions. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When the butter is bubbly, add the garlic and oregano. Cook for 1 minute. Add the 1 cup cooking liquid, lemon juice, and lemon zest and bring to a simmer. Add the linguine and toss to coat and heat through. Remove the pan from the heat and fold in the basil and 1/4 cup parmesan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer the linguine to individual shallow bowls and top with the sliced chicken. Serve with extra parmesan cheese on the side.

Serves 4