Protein Veggie Zucchini Chicken Alfredo (Print)

Tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and zucchini noodles in a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.1 pounds), cut into thin strips

→ Vegetables

02 - 4 medium zucchinis, spiralized into noodles
03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cup baby spinach leaves
06 - 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

→ Alfredo Sauce

07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 cup heavy cream
11 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
14 - Salt, to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Additional Parmesan cheese, for serving

# How to Make:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken strips lightly with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil and sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add sliced bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, and thawed peas. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and nutmeg. Allow sauce to simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until slightly thickened and creamy.
04 - Add spiralized zucchini noodles and baby spinach to the skillet. Toss gently to coat vegetables evenly with the sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes until zucchini is tender-crisp, maintaining a slight bite.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss all ingredients together for 1-2 minutes until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired. Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy Alfredo satisfaction without the heavy carb coma afterwards
  • The colorful medley of vegetables makes it feel like youre eating something restaurant quality but it comes together in under an hour
02 -
  • Zucchini noodles continue to release water as they sit, so serve this immediately rather than letting it linger
  • The sauce will continue thickening off the heat, so pull it slightly earlier than you think
03 -
  • Pat your chicken dry with paper towels before searing for better browning
  • Save some pasta water if youre mixing in regular noodles to help emulsify the sauce

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