Description
Healthy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta balances the rich, savory notes of aged cheese with fresh garlic, providing a creamy texture without heavy cream.
Ingredients
Scale
12 oz Whole Wheat Penne or Fettuccine
1.5 lbs Chicken Breast (boneless, skinless)
6–8 large cloves Fresh Garlic
1 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
2 cups Fresh Spinach or 1/4 cup Parsley
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to the package instructions until it reaches al dente. Reserve at least one cup of the starchy pasta water before draining
- Season the Chicken: Dice your chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Season them with salt, black pepper, and a touch of dried oregano
- Sear the Protein: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer. Let it brown for 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook until fully opaque. Remove the chicken from the pa
- Sauté the Aromatics: In the same pan, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté until fragrant, about 60 seconds
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour chicken broth into the skillet. Scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pa
- Build the Sauce: Add the cooked pasta and seared chicken back into the skillet. Turn the heat to low. Gradually sprinkle in the grated parmesan while tossing the mixture
- The Final Emulsion: Slowly pour in reserved pasta water. Toss until the cheese melts and forms a silky coating over the noodles. Stir in fresh spinach until it wilts
- Serve: Plate immediately and garnish with fresh parsley
Notes
Taste your dish before serving, and a final squeeze of lemon juice can enhance the flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 80mg