Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe for a Healthy Dinner

Introduction

Craving a satisfying meal that delivers classic comfort flavor without excess fuss or calories? This Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe for a Healthy Dinner packs all the creamy, garlicky goodness of a restaurant favorite right into your home kitchen—no heavy cream required. With tender chicken, a velvety parmesan sauce, and perfectly cooked noodles, it’s a crowd-pleaser that comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.

Why You’ll Love This Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This recipe stands out for its harmonious blend of bold garlic and nutty parmesan, creating a sauce that coats every strand of pasta and juicy piece of chicken. It uses lighter ingredients—think olive oil, skim milk, and lean chicken breast—making it wholesome yet satisfying. Every bite balances robust flavor and creamy texture, making it an ideal healthy dinner that doesn’t sacrifice taste.

The Secret to the Creamy Parmesan Sauce

To achieve a luscious sauce without heavy cream, the recipe relies on a simple roux (a mix of flour and olive oil), skim milk, and freshly grated parmesan. Sautéed garlic infuses the base with depth and aroma, while a little reserved pasta water adds silkiness. The result: a creamy, savory sauce that clings beautifully to pasta for a comforting yet nutritious meal.

Fast Assembly for Busy Evenings

Start your pasta and cook the chicken at the same time—no waiting around. Once the sauce is ready, simply combine everything in the pan. A quick toss ensures every ingredient is coated in savory goodness, ready to be served piping hot with an optional sprinkle of fresh parsley or cracked black pepper.

Serving Suggestions for Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This pasta pairs wonderfully with steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or a fresh green salad for extra veggies. A crusty whole grain bread on the side helps mop up every bit of sauce, while a squeeze of lemon brightens the flavors further. Serve family-style for maximum appeal.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 hearty servings. Each portion contains about 375 calories, 34g of protein, 8g of fat, and 38g of carbohydrates—making it both filling and nutritious. Using whole wheat pasta can further increase the fiber content for added health benefits.

Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recap

With its rich garlic-parmesan flavor, balanced ingredients, and straightforward method, this healthy dinner recipe is bound to become a staple in your weekly rotation—enthusiastically enjoyed by adults and kids alike.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to generate an organized shopping list with every ingredient sorted by grocery section. Perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning!

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Sauté until golden and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add remaining tablespoon olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Sprinkle flour over the garlic and stir continuously for another 1–2 minutes until lightly golden.
5. Gradually whisk in skim milk to prevent lumps, stirring until the mixture thickens—about 3-4 minutes.
6. Reduce heat to low and stir in parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve desired consistency.
7. Add cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet, tossing until everything is thoroughly coated in sauce. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve topped with chopped parsley and extra parmesan, if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is an excellent choice for weekly meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to automatically slot it into your dinner plan, consolidate ingredients across other meals, and get a smart shopping list sorted for the whole week.

Planning Benefits:

• Calculates ingredient totals for all recipes so you never buy too much or too little
• Generates an organized list grouped by grocery store aisle
• Prevents duplicate purchases and minimizes forgotten items
• Makes weekly meal prep and grocery shopping fast and stress-free

Pro tip: When planning multiple dinners, schedule your recipes to see overlapping ingredients—saving money and reducing waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes