Zucchini Noodle Chicken Alfredo (Printable version)

Creamy Alfredo with tender chicken and fresh vegetables over spiralized zucchini noodles for a light, protein-rich meal.

# What you need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into strips

→ Vegetables

02 - 4 medium zucchini, spiralized into noodles
03 - 1 cup broccoli florets
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
09 - 1 cup light cream or half-and-half
10 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1/4 cup low-fat cream cheese
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
14 - Extra Parmesan cheese for serving

# How to make it:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken strips with salt and pepper. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add broccoli florets and sliced red bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes until just tender-crisp.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in light cream and stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth.
05 - Add grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until fully incorporated and sauce reaches creamy consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Gently fold zucchini noodles and baby spinach into sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently until noodles are just tender and spinach is wilted. Avoid overcooking to prevent soggy noodles.
07 - Return cooked chicken to skillet. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through. Serve immediately topped with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy comfort of classic Alfredo without the heavy food coma afterwards
  • The vegetables somehow make themselves at home in the sauce instead of feeling like healthy intruders
02 -
  • Overcooked zucchini noodles release water and turn your beautiful sauce into soup, so watch them closely
  • The sauce thickens quickly off the heat, so remove it from the stove a moment before it looks perfect
03 -
  • Pat your zucchini noodles dry with paper towels before cooking to prevent excess water
  • Room temperature cream cheese melts into the sauce much faster than cold from the fridge

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