Lemon Basil Pasta with Grilled Chicken

I got this recipe off one of my favorite recipe blogs, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I love the pioneer woman. I love her recipe blog because she uses lots of pictures, and I am a very visual person. This was really yummy, and a definite addition to my recipe collection.

Lemon Basil Pasta with Grilled Chicken - slightly adapted

4 whole Grilled Chicken Breasts, Sliced *I used this lemon chicken marinade:

Grilled Lemon Chicken
Juice of one lemon (~3 Tb lemon juice)
3 Tb oil
1 tsp minced garlic (~ 2 medium-large cloves)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
½ tsp oregano
1 lb chicken breasts

1 pound Penne Pasta, Cooked Until Al Dente

½ sticks Butter

3 whole Lemons, Juiced

¾ cups Heavy Cream

¼ cups Half-and-half

1-½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (or Romano)

Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste

20 whole Basil Leaves, Chopped

Cook pasta, reserving 1 cup of hot pasta water when you drain. Set pasta aside in a

colander.

In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Squeeze in the juice of 3 to 4 lemons.

Whisk together. Pour in cream and half-and-heat. Whisk until hot. Dump in cheese and

whisk until melted. Add salt and pepper. Add pasta to the sauce. Check consistency, adding some of the hot pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Add about half of the basil.

Pour pasta and sauce into a large serving bowl. Sprinkle remaining basil all over the top,

then add sliced chicken breasts. Serve immediately!