Protein Veggie Packed Zucchini Noodle Alfredo (Printable)

Creamy Alfredo with tender chicken and fresh vegetables over zucchini noodles for a lighter, protein-rich Italian-inspired dish.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into strips

→ Vegetables

02 - 4 medium zucchini, spiralized into noodles
03 - 1 cup broccoli florets
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
09 - 1 cup light cream (or half-and-half)
10 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1/4 cup low-fat cream cheese
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
14 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken strips with salt and pepper, add to skillet, and sauté for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add broccoli florets and sliced red bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 3–4 minutes until just tender-crisp.
04 - Lower heat to medium-low. Pour in light cream and stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth, creating a consistent base.
05 - Add grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until fully incorporated and sauce reaches creamy consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Gently fold zucchini noodles and baby spinach into the sauce. Cook for 2–3 minutes, tossing until noodles are just tender and spinach is wilted. Take care not to overcook as zucchini will become soggy.
07 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet and toss everything together until well combined and heated through. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The protein count is serious business with over 30 grams per serving but nobody will believe it's actually good for them
  • Zucchini noodles stay perfectly tender when you follow the timing and don't walk away from the stove
02 -
  • The biggest mistake is overcooking the zucchini noodles which turns them into mush
  • Room temperature cream cheese melts faster and prevents that grainy texture everyone hates
03 -
  • Pat your zucchini noodles dry with paper towels if they seem especially wet after spiralizing
  • Reserve a tiny splash of pasta water if you're serving actual pasta on the side

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