Description
Skip heavy cream! Our healthy, easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta uses reserved starchy water for a guilt-free creamy sauce. Quick 20-minute meal. Full instructions and nutritional breakdown included.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces penne or fettuccine pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (non-fat or 2%)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water. Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water, then drain and set the pasta aside.
- Step 2: Season the cubed chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until fully browned and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Step 3: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the Greek yogurt and grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and fully incorporated. If the sauce appears too thick, stir in 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Step 5: Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the garlic parmesan sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
- For best texture, store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, adding a splash of extra broth or water when storing to keep the pasta from drying out.
- Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat, adding 1-2 teaspoons of chicken broth or water; avoid high heat or boiling, which can cause the yogurt-based sauce to separate.
- Enhance the meal by serving alongside a crisp green salad tossed with a simple lemon vinaigrette or a side of steamed broccoli for added fiber and color.
- Don't skip scraping up the browned chicken bits (the 'fond') in Step 3 when you add the broth; this flavor boost is essential for a deep, savory garlic sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups prepared dish
- Calories: 465
- Sodium: 405mg
- Fat: 14.0g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Protein: 2g