Healthy Chicken Pasta (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta and Veggies

01 - 8-10 ounces of your favorite pasta shape
02 - 2 cups of broccoli cut into small florets

→ For the Chicken

03 - 2 medium chicken breasts, either halved or flattened
04 - 1 tablespoon of olive oil
05 - 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning

→ For the Alfredo Sauce

06 - 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil
07 - 1/2 a minced onion
08 - 5-6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
09 - 3 tablespoons of flour for thickening
10 - 1 cup of chicken broth or plain water
11 - 1 cup of whole milk
12 - 2 ounces of cream cheese
13 - 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

# Instructions:

01 - Boil the pasta in salty water, as per the box instructions, until it's just cooked through. Toss the broccoli into the pot for the last minute of cooking, then drain it all and set it aside.
02 - As the pasta cooks, warm up a wide pan over medium heat with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian herbs on the chicken and add it to the pan. Let it cook fully for 5-6 minutes per side. Take it out, let it cool for a bit, then cut into slices or cubes.
03 - In the same pan, without cleaning it, heat 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil. Add the onions and cook for 3-5 minutes, then toss in the garlic and stir for roughly 30 seconds until it looks lightly golden.
04 - Mix in the flour and stir for 30 seconds to toast it slightly. Gradually pour in the chicken stock and milk while whisking nonstop until the mixture is smooth.
05 - Let the liquids come to a simmer, then stir in the cream cheese and Parmesan. Whisk until the sauce is completely smooth and season it with salt and pepper if needed.
06 - Add your drained pasta and broccoli to the cream sauce. Either stir in the cooked chicken pieces or lay the chicken on top. Sprinkle more Parmesan or fresh parsley if you'd like before serving.

# Notes:

01 - This lightened-up chicken Alfredo is just 496 calories per serving while keeping tons of flavor.
02 - Feel free to use any type of pasta you like—fettuccine works nicely, but so do penne, rotini, or bow ties.
03 - For a lower-calorie version, switch the whole milk to skim or 2% milk.

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