Protein Veggie Packed Zucchini Noodle Chicken Alfredo (Print version)

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

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken strips, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the broccoli and red bell pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes until just tender.
04 - Lower the heat to medium-low. Pour in the light cream and stir in the cream cheese until melted and smooth.
05 - Add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until the sauce is creamy. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Gently fold in the zucchini noodles and baby spinach. Cook for 2–3 minutes, tossing until the noodles are just tender and the spinach is wilted (do not overcook or the noodles will become soggy).
07 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss everything together until well combined and heated through. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy richness of classic alfredo without the post-meal food coma
  • The protein from chicken keeps you satisfied for hours while the veggies add vibrant freshness
  • Everything comes together in one skillet in under 40 minutes
02 -
  • Overcooking zucchini noodles turns them into watery mush so watch them carefully
  • The sauce continues thickening off the heat so remove it slightly earlier than you think
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly than cold straight from the fridge
03 -
  • Spiralize your own zucchini right before cooking for the best texture
  • Use a microplane to grate Parmesan for the smoothest melting
  • Season the chicken aggressively since it needs to stand up to the bold sauce

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