Description
Healthy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe. Creamy, flavorful pasta with tender chicken. Quick, comforting, and crowd-pleasing. Perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) whole wheat pasta (penne, fettuccine or spaghetti)
- 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 6–8 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup (240ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup (120g) plain Greek yogurt (2% or full-fat works best)
- ¾ cup (75g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup (30g) fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the Pasta Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add whole wheat pasta and cook until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions suggest. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain pasta but don’t rinse – that starch helps the sauce cling to each piece!
- Step 2: Prepare the Chicken While the pasta cooks, season chicken cubes with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken in a single layer (work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer chicken to a clean plate and cover loosely with foil.
- Step 3: Make the Garlic Sauce Return the skillet to medium heat and add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add two-thirds of the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for just 30-45 seconds until fragrant but not browned. Pour in chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any flavorful bits. Bring to a simmer and let reduce by about one-third, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Step 4: Create the Creamy Element Reduce heat to low. Remove about ¼ cup of the hot broth mixture and whisk it into the Greek yogurt in a separate bowl (this prevents curdling). Pour this mixture back into the skillet, along with the remaining fresh garlic, and stir to incorporate. Gradually add ½ cup of the grated Parmesan, stirring constantly until melted and smooth.
- Step 5: Combine and Finish Add the drained pasta directly to the sauce, tossing continuously while gradually adding reserved pasta water until the sauce reaches your desired consistency (you’ll likely use about ½ cup). Return the chicken to the skillet along with any accumulated juices. Add lemon juice, most of the parsley, and the remaining Parmesan. Toss gently to combine everything and heat through for 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Step 6: Serve Transfer your Healthy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta to serving dishes. Garnish with remaining parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot and saucy!
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg