Healthier Chicken Alfredo
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Nov. 11, 2024
This Healthy Chicken Alfredo is the best way to enjoy your comfort food favorite without sacrificing flavor. The lighter sauce doesn’t use heavy cream or butter, yet it doesn’t skimp on flavor.
In This Article
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
This Healthy Chicken Alfredo recipe is delicious comfort food without being super heavy, I worked and re-worked this recipe until nailing down a dish that is lighter, healthier, and doesn’t sacrifice any flavor. Why we love this:
- Lighter Sauce: By using milk instead of heavy cream and butter, we keep the creaminess of the Alfredo with less guilt. It’s like our Chicken Fettucini Alfredo with Broccoli, but healthier!
- Healthy Protein: This recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts, making it a perfect addition to your high-protein dinner rotation just like this Chicken Florentine Pasta.
- Family-Friendly: It makes a great family meal and is delicious and nice enough for dinner guests on the weekend. Also try our Healthy Chicken Piccata.
- Choose Your Veggies: Use zucchini, broccoli, bell peppers, or spinach to add a healthy dose of vegetables into this dish.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Breast – The boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a great source of lean protein. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Fettuccini – We use fettuccini for this recipe. The long, flat noodles are perfect for holding the creamy alfredo sauce.
- Garlic – We use both garlic powder and freshly minced garlic for a robust flavor.
- Zucchini – We add sliced zucchini to sneak in some extra veggies. Feel free to use any other veggie you like.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese is a must for the alfredo sauce. It adds a salty, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions for this Healthy Chicken Alfredo recipe:
- Meatless: If you want to make it a meatless dish, just omit the chicken and add more veggies. It’ll be just as delicious and satisfying, like our Pasta Primavera.
- Extra Veggies: Feel free to use any other vegetables, such as broccoli florets, zoodles, chopped kale/spinach leaves, or sliced bell peppers.
- Pasta: You can use any type of pasta you like. Try gluten-free pasta, spaghetti, or penne. Or for a low-carbohydrates option, serve the chicken and sauce over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and pound to an even thickness, 1/2″ throughout.
- Season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Pan-fry the chicken until just cooked. Let it sit for 3 minutes before cutting into strips.
- If you’d like to add vegetables: In a large skillet, sauté half of the chopped garlic. Add veggies and cook until just tender.
- Sauté the remaining chopped garlic in oil. Add the milk mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, add parmesan cheese, and season to your liking.
- Cook the fettuccini in boiling water. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
- Add the sauce, chicken, and any vegetables to the pasta. Adjust the consistency with the reserved pasta water. Sprinkle with fresh basil, parmesan, and serve.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Here are our favorite prep-ahead strategies for this Healthy Chicken Alfredo:
- Prep the Chicken and Vegetables: You can slice your choice of vegetables ahead of time. You can also pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness in advance. Make sure to store them properly in the fridge, up to 2 days prior to using.
- Make the Sauce: The Alfredo sauce can be prepared ahead of time. Follow the recipe instructions to make the sauce, let it cool, and then store it in an airtight until you’re ready to cook.
What To Serve With Healthy Chicken Alfredo
Fresh Bread
- We love serving some crusty artisan bread such as this French Bread Recipe or Rosemary Garlic Bread with this pasta dish.
- You can’t go wrong with some Olive Garden Style Bread Sticks for a complete meal.
Vegetables
- Broccoli is a classic side for Alfredo dishes and this Air Fryer Broccoli is our absolute favorite!
- A Chopped Greek Salad or a Caesar Salad are also great options for balancing out the richness of the pasta.
- We also love how well Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Vegetables go with this tasty pasta dish.
Wine Pairing
- This easy pasta dish pairs well with a crisp (not “oaky”) chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of pasta for this recipe?
Yes, you can use a different pasta type if you prefer. While fettucini is the classic choice for Alfredo, you can also try this recipe with penne, spaghetti, or any other pasta of your choice.
Why do I need to reserve pasta water?
Pasta water is starchy and can be used to adjust the consistency of the sauce. The reserved pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and bind it with the pasta without making it too watery. It also adds a little extra flavor to the dish.
How long does chicken alfredo keep?
Healthy chicken alfredo can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
How do I reheat chicken alfredo pasta without it drying out?
Add a splash of milk, broth, or water before reheating on the stovetop to give it extra moisture.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Healthy Chicken Alfredo
This Healthy Chicken Alfredo is made healthier with a lighter sauce that doesn't use heavy cream or butter, yet doesn't skimp on flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground pepper, to taste
- garlic powder, to taste
- onion powder , to taste
- 5 TB extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 oz fettuccine, dry
- 2 cups milk, whole or 2%
- 1 tsp flour
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus extra for serving
- 1 cup pasta water, reserved
- ¼ cup basil, freshly chopped
- Optional: 2 cups freshly chopped spinach
Instructions
For Chicken and Vegetables
- Place chicken in a single layer on large cutting board. Use paper towels to pat dry chicken.
- Cover chicken with cling wrap and pound to an even 1/2" thinness. Generously sprinkle chicken on both sides kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat 2 TB oil in large skillet over medium high until sizzling. Pan fry chicken 2 pieces at a time, until just cooked, 2-3 minutes per side until nicely browned. Remove from heat, and let sit 3 minutes. Cut chicken into strips and keep warm.
- Begin boiling large pot of generously salted water while you make the sauce.
For the Sauce
- Mix milk and flour in bowl. Sauté chopped garlic in 1 TB oil in a large skillet over medium high for 30 seconds. Add milk mixture and bring to boil while stirring. Reduce heat to low and stir 3 minutes.
- Add parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Stir in chopped spinach, if using. Add salt and pepper to taste. Turn heat off and keep covered.
For Pasta
- Cook fettuccine in boiling water to al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, and drain the rest. Do not rinse pasta.
- Transfer drained pasta back into pot and toss with sauce. Add as much reserved pasta water as needed until desired consistency – I add all of it, as it tends to thicken with time.
- Gently toss in freshly chopped basil. Serve immediately with sliced chicken and additional parmesan.
Notes
- Cook the fettucini al dente, as it will continue to cook a little in the pan. This will give your pasta the perfect texture when done.
- Reserve some of the pasta water after you’ve cooked the fettuccini. This starchy water helps make your Alfredo sauce creamier and helps the sauce stick to the pasta.
- To Add Vegetables: Heat 2 TB olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 TB freshly chopped garlic, and cook until fragrant. Add 2 cups sliced zucchinis, broccoli florets, or sliced bell peppers. Stir frequently and cook until just tender. Sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste. Sauté another minute. Set aside and keep warm. Add to pasta and sauce when ready to serve.
- Wine Pairing Note: This pasta dish goes well with a Crisp (non-oaked) Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
- We love serving this dish with crusty artisan bread such as this Homemade French Bread or Rosemary Garlic Bread.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 605mg | Potassium: 1105mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 755IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 505mg | Iron: 3mg
More to Cook And Eat
- Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo with Broccoli – This Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo with Broccoli is a creamy, cheesy family favorite that’s easy enough for a weeknight meal but delicious enough for guests.
- Lemon Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Asparagus – This Lemon Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Asparagus is unbelievably easy, healthy, and mouthwatering!
- Pasta e Fagioli (Olive Garden Copycat) – Olive Garden’s Pasta e Fagioli is famous for good reason. It is a hearty and healthy soup that hits the spot without sabotaging the waistline.
- Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken – This Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken is healthy, satisfying, and 200% delicious. It’ll take center stage at any picnic, potluck, dinner table, or the lunch table if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers.