The near constant dreariness around here is making me regress slightly and crave comfort foods, like the Skinny Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo I made for dinner tonight.
Seasoned chicken, steamed broccoli & tender pasta are enveloped in a light-yet-luscious alfredo sauce dreamed up by Courtney at Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life. Love that girl’s recipes!
This is the kind of meal that makes you sit back and sigh with satisfaction when you’re done. Healthy, filling, and indulgent tasting. Seriously yummy stuff!
Start by cooking 8oz short-cut pasta in salted, boiling water. Don’t forget to salt the water with at least a Tablespoon of salt – it makes all the flavor difference in the world. Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking water. You’ll use it in a bit.
While the pasta is cooking, heat 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add in a couple cloves of minced garlic, then cook until the garlic turns golden brown, about a minute.
When the garlic is golden brown and fragrant, whisk in 2 Tablespoons flour and cook, whisking constantly, for about another minute.
Next, slowly whisk in 1 cup chicken broth, incorporating it with the flour, then whisk in 1/4 cup milk.
Add 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt plus salt and pepper, then let the sauce bubble until slightly thick and bubbly.
Finally, stir in 3/4 cup parmesan cheese and 2 chopped, cooked chicken breasts.
Assembly time!
Add the alfredo sauce and chicken to the cooked pasta, then add in 2 cups cooked broccoli. If you’re smart, you’ll cook the broccoli in with the pasta during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking time. If you’re me, you’ll forget, drain the pasta, then have to steam the broccoli in a separate pan. Blerg! At any rate, add in some of the pasta cooking water at this time if you feel the sauce is too thick, and stir everything together.
This alfredo sauce is creamy, cheesy, silky and decadent. Just like the real thing, but skinny! You could easily make this dish gluten-free by using GF pasta, too!
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Skinny Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
Description
Skinny Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo is everything you love about alfredo, but without all the fat and calories!
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, seasoned with salt & pepper then cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups cooked broccoli
- 8oz rotini
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup milk, any kind
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- salt and pepper
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining. Set aside.
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 1 minute. Sprinkle in flour then whisk to incorporate and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Slowly whisk in chicken broth, then milk. Whisk in Greek yogurt, salt and pepper, then turn the heat down to low and let the mixture simmer until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Turn the heat off then stir in parmesan cheese, then chicken. Pour over cooked pasta then add broccoli and stir well. Add a little reserved pasta cooking water if sauce is too thick. Serve.
Notes
Barely adapted from Celebrations.com
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Although…I’m pretty sure Skinny Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo stops being so “skinny” after the second or, cough, third bowl. Worth it!
Skinny Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo « palabrasyfotografias 02.18.2013
[…] (Source:Â https://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/22/skinny-chicken-broccoli-alfredo/) […]
Getting Back In Shape » Healthy, Wealthy & DIYs 02.11.2013
[…] (source: Iowa Girl Eats – she has an awesome breakdown of how to cook this recipe!) […]
kristie 02.04.2013
hey can u give me nutrition facts please
Amber 01.29.2013
How many calories per serving are in this dish and Fat total?
Skinny Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo » Table for Two 01.16.2013
[…] Source: from Iowa Girl Eats […]
leanna 01.03.2013
Is there something else I could use instead of the Greek yogurt or yogurt in general?
Megan H. 12.18.2012
My husband and I just had this for dinner, and let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS! The hubby loved it, too. Great way to use up some greek yogurt before it expires (that expiration date always tends to sneak up on me!) Thanks for posting; can’t wait to eat leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
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[…] BBQ Chicken Pizza Skinny Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo The near constant dreariness ’round these parts is making me regress slightly and crave comfort […]
Michelle 11.26.2012
I recently started visiting your blog but have not gotten into leaving comments. My goal is to comment ,ore. Tonight I noticed your engagement ring and wedding band are both channel set. So are mine. I wanted to say, I love all of the recipes you post. Your blog is great!
RIT – Day 13 « Life is full of Sunny Days 11.21.2012
[…] is being very helpful by making pasta.  It was supposed to be part of the skinny chicken broccoli Alfredo I was supposed to make.  It will go nicely with some leftover meat sauce we have in the […]
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Megan 11.13.2012
Just made this! So good! Tried to make it even healthier by using whole grain pasta and low-fat Parmesan. :) Unfortunately I forgot garlic and had to use garlic salt as a substitute. It would have been fine except I used too much so the meal tasted a little salty!
Kat 11.12.2012
I stumbled on your blog while doing a random search for healthier from-scratch alfredo recipes. One highly recommended tweak I did was roasting the broccoli in the oven with a little nonstick spray, salt, and pepper. It adds some depth of flavor to a “boring” veggie, although to be honest I will eat broccoli every way you can make it except overdone. Thanks for the excellent recipe!
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[…] I went out in search of substitutions. Morgan had turned me on to Iowa Girl Eats, and I found this recipe for skinny chicken and broccoli alfredo on her blog. I thought I could make it veggie by leaving out the chicken, obviously, and using […]
Christina 10.18.2012
i just made it and it is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just need a little more sauce
Samantha 09.03.2012
Just made this and it was amazing! Thanks so much.
Shahenda 08.30.2012
I have a question please, how is this skinny when it has white flour and white pasta? Also can I use cream cheese instead of Parmesan?
Danielle 08.29.2012
This is amazing & has become a favorite in our house…so much so that it has been requested for a family party. Any tips on making ahead? Or making large batches? Thanks!!!
Iowa Girl Eats 08.30.2012
Unfortunately I haven’t had much luck with making pasta ahead of time – it’s always a little gloopy and dry when reheating. Something that could save time the night of is measuring out all the ingredients beforehand so they’re all ready to throw in the skillet when you make the dish!
christen 08.26.2012
i can’t believe how good this was. genius. seriously. i almost never make any kind of italian dish, since most recipes are so heavy – and i certainly have never made alfredo. my husband suggested chicken alfredo with broccoli for a sunday dinner and i knew exactly where to go for a recipe. unbelievable. easy, tasty, and skinny! what could be better!
Fiona 08.23.2012
Made this tonight and it was delicious!!!!