Healthy High Protein Chicken Pasta for Simple Meal Prep Dinners
A light and creamy garlic Parmesan chicken pasta made with whole wheat pasta, lean chicken breast, and a flavorful cheese sauce. Perfect for a healthy, comforting dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz whole wheat pasta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup low-fat milk or unsweetened almond milk
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and cook chicken until golden and fully cooked. Remove and slice.
- In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 30–60 seconds.
- Add milk and stir in Parmesan gradually. Simmer until slightly thickened.
- Add cooked pasta, chicken, and spinach. Stir to combine, adding pasta water as needed.
- Serve warm with extra Parmesan and pepper.
Notes
- Use chickpea pasta for gluten-free version.
- Add red pepper flakes for heat.
- Store leftovers up to 4 days refrigerated.