Description
A lightened-up version of classic chicken Alfredo featuring juicy lemon-herb chicken, tender broccoli, and a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce—perfect for beginner cooks looking for a quick, healthy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8-10 ounces pasta (linguine or any shape)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 medium chicken breasts, pounded flat or cut in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for chicken)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sauce)
- 1/2 onion, minced
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta in generously salted boiling water until al dente. Add broccoli during the last minute of cooking. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, season chicken breasts with garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove from heat, rest 5 minutes, then slice or dice.
- In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté onion for 3-5 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk in flour and cook for 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in chicken stock and milk, stirring constantly until smooth. Bring to a simmer.
- Add cream cheese and Parmesan to the sauce and whisk until fully melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the sauce, tossing to coat. Top with chicken or mix it in. Serve hot with extra Parmesan or parsley if desired.
Notes
- If the sauce thickens too much, add reserved pasta water or broth to loosen.
- Use pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Spinach or peas can be substituted for broccoli.
- To make it gluten-free, use GF pasta and swap flour for GF blend or cornstarch.
- For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with mushrooms or tofu and use vegetable broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 496
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.01g
- Carbohydrates: 57g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 66mg