Description
A delicious and healthy garlic parmesan chicken pasta made with tender chicken breast, flavorful seasonings, reduced fat Parmesan cheese, and a lightly spiced tomato sauce, perfect for a quick and nutritious weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenderloins, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Pepper
- 2 Tbsp (15g) Reduced Fat Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4–1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper, based on spice preference
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 bag (8.5 oz) Barilla Ready Pasta Rotini, or your choice of pasta
- 15 oz can Tomato Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Garlic Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Granular Sugar Substitute like stevia or Swerve
- 1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper, omit if sensitive to spice
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Optional: shredded mozzarella cheese for topping
Instructions
- Mix Seasonings: Combine the garlic pepper, parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper in a resealable bag or container. This mixture will be used to marinate the chicken to infuse it with flavor.
- Marinate Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite size pieces and add them to the resealable container with the seasoning mix. Shake or stir until the chicken is fully coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer, to enhance the flavor.
- Heat Skillet: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and spray with nonstick cooking spray. The pan is ready when water drops sizzle on contact.
- Cook Chicken: Add the marinated chicken to the hot skillet and spread evenly. Leave the chicken untouched for 4 minutes to develop a good sear, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Ensure no pieces remain pink inside before lowering the heat to low.
- Prepare Pasta and Sauce: While the chicken cooks, microwave the Barilla Ready Pasta according to package instructions. In a bowl, mix the tomato sauce with garlic pepper, sugar substitute, and crushed red pepper to create a flavorful sauce.
- Combine and Simmer: Add the cooked pasta and sauce mixture to the skillet with the chicken. Stir everything together and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is warmed through and the mixture is well combined.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and, if desired, top with shredded mozzarella cheese before serving for an extra cheesy touch.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of crushed red pepper to your heat preference or omit it if you are sensitive to spice.
- Using reduced fat Parmesan cheese helps keep the dish lower in calories without sacrificing flavor.
- Substitute sugar with stevia or Swerve to keep the recipe diabetic friendly and lower in sugar content.
- The recipe uses Barilla Ready Pasta to save cooking time; regular pasta can be used but may need longer preparation.
- Optional shredded mozzarella cheese can be added for extra creaminess but will increase calories and fat slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, Healthy Chicken Pasta, Low Fat Pasta Recipe, Quick Dinner, Italian Chicken Pasta
