Chicken alfredo is a household favourite that’s properly top tier comfort food.
This easy-to-follow recipe offers up a healthy twist on this classic pasta dish.
By substituting out the heavy cream that’s usually a key part of chicken alfredo, you can instantly cut the calories and fat content of this dish but keep the flavour with a simple sauce that uses chicken stock, skimmed milk, and a little flour to thicken.
- Can you meal prep chicken Alfredo?
- How to store chicken Alfredo
- Fresh vs grated parmesan
- What to serve with chicken Alfredo
- Variations and add-ins
- Make it vegan
- Equipment needed
- Chicken Alfredo recipe
- Other pasta recipes
Can you meal prep chicken alfredo?
You can absolutely meal prep chicken alfredo. If I know that I want leftovers, or to specifically make chicken Alfredo for my lunches, I opt for a smaller pasta shape like penne or fusilli, because I find it’s easier to reheat.
How to store chicken Alfredo
After you’ve finished cooking your chicken Alfredo, package it up into a couple of airtight containers. Make sure the food has completely cooled before you pop the lids on the boxes and put it in the fridge. It should be good in the fridge for three days or so.
Fresh vs grated parmesan
Personally, freshly grated parmesan always trumps pre-grated, with a much fresher and deeper taste. But, when cooking on a budget, I always go for pre-grated.
What to serve with chicken Alfredo
With such a creamy dish, I always appreciate a side salad to balance the richness of the sauce. Also, I'm of the belief that pasta is best served with garlic bread, and I won’t hear otherwise.
Make it vegan
To make the recipe vegan, swap out the chicken for your go-to meat substitute. For example, crispy tofu works a treat, so do meat substitute pieces. You’ll also need to swap the skimmed milk and parmesan for a plant-based alternatives. And, swap the chicken stock for veg stock.
Variations and add-ins
No recipe is always perfect for everyone, but that’s where switching and changing a couple of ingredients here and there works a treat.
- Add in some extra veggies: This recipe includes spinach, but broccoli and mushrooms also work really well.
- Switch up your pasta: I honestly think any pasta shape works with this sauce, although my favourites might be bucatini or penne. The holes in the centre are perfect for trapping the sauce, making each bite delicious.
- Chicken substitutes: This recipe is ideal for using up any leftover roasted chicken, just shred it up and add it to the sauce. Alternatively, if you’re not in the mood for chicken, switch it out for chorizo or bacon, this’ll add a delicious smokey element to the dish.
Equipment needed
- Frying pan
- Large saucepan
- Wooden spoon
Tasty chicken Alfredo recipe
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast (cubed)
- 1 Low-calorie cooking spray
- 1 Salt & pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic and herb seasoning
- 120 g Whole wheat penne pasta
- 1 Chicken stock cube (dissolved in a splash of water)
- 50 ml Skimmed milk
- 1 tbsp Plain flour
- 200 g Spinach
- 1 Parmesan cheese
Instructions
First, heat some low-calorie cooking spray in a pan and add the chicken breast pieces. Season with salt and pepper and cook until they’ve turned from pink to golden brown.
Meanwhile boil the kettle to start cooking your pasta. Add the boiling water to a sauce pan with the pasta and follow the pack instructions (usually cook for 12-15 minutes).
Once the chicken is cooked all the way through, set aside. In the same pan, begin making the sauce by adding the chicken stock along with a tablespoon of flour. Stir constantly to get rid of any lumps and then add the milk. Keep stirring the sauce over a medium heat to allow it to thicken.
Add in the garlic and herb seasoning and some big handfuls of spinach. Stir the sauce and allow the spinach to wilt.
Drain your cooked pasta and then add it to the pan with your sauce, along with the cooked chicken pieces. Mix everything well so that it’s all combined.
Serve up into bowls and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Nutritional info per serving:
| Calories | 488 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 46g |
| Protein | 63g |
Other pasta recipes
If you’re partial to pasta, then check out these other recipes. There’s something for everyone, meaty, tomatoey, rich or simple.
High-Protein Pasta Recipes | 9 Delicious Ideas
Remember the days when pasta was impossible to get hold of? *shudders*
Try these recipes next:
30-Minute Chicken Tikka Masala Meal Prep
Sort your lunches for the week in just half an hour.
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