Healthy Chicken Alfredo Bowl (Print Version)

Protein-rich bowl of chicken and whole wheat pasta in a light, creamy sauce with broccoli and cherry tomatoes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 500 g (1.1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces

→ Pasta

02 - 250 g (9 oz) whole wheat penne or fusilli

→ Vegetables

03 - 150 g (1 cup) broccoli florets
04 - 100 g (1/2 cup) cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

06 - 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) low-fat milk
07 - 100 g (1/2 cup) plain Greek yogurt (2% or nonfat)
08 - 2 tbsp light cream cheese
09 - 30 g (1/4 cup) grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
13 - 1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)

→ Garnish

14 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
15 - Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook the pasta according to package instructions. In the last 3 minutes, add broccoli florets. Drain and set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until golden and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes). Remove and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Sprinkle flour over the garlic, stir for 1 minute, then gradually whisk in the milk. Simmer until slightly thickened (2-3 minutes).
05 - Lower heat, whisk in Greek yogurt, cream cheese, and Parmesan until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using.
06 - Return chicken to the skillet, add cooked pasta and broccoli, and toss to coat in the sauce. Add cherry tomatoes and gently mix.
07 - Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The creamy Alfredo sauce tastes so rich, you'd never guess it's protein-packed and lightened up – trust me on this one.
  • It manages to satisfy cravings without weighing you down, making it a recurring star in my dinner rotation.
02 -
  • If you rush and add the yogurt while the sauce is bubbling, it can split and become grainy – stir it in off the heat for the smoothest result.
  • Keeping the pasta a touch underdone before adding to the sauce lets it soak up flavors without going soft.
03 -
  • Searing the chicken in a single layer helps it brown instead of steam, so resist the urge to crowd the pan.
  • Grate the Parmesan fresh at the last minute for the best melt and flavor.
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