Zucchini Chicken Alfredo with Parmesan Sauce
Indulge in a creamy and flavorful low-carb meal that combines chicken and zucchini noodles in a rich Parmesan sauce, perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Servings: 6
Full Ingredient List
- 3 small zucchini
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup unsalted grass-fed butter
- ¾ cup quinoa cream or organic heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 6 ounces Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
- Sea salt
Zucchini Noodles
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 3 small |
zucchini |
cut lengthwise with a vegetable peeler or spiraled |
|
| ½ teaspoon |
sea salt |
|
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
Place spiralized zucchini in a colander over a bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. (Tips: Salting helps the zucchini release moisture. You can salt them up to a day in advance.)
Chicken and Sauce
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 1 tablespoon |
avocado oil |
|
olive oil |
| 16 ounces |
boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs |
|
|
| 1 teaspoon |
Italian seasoning |
|
|
| ¼ teaspoon |
cayenne pepper |
|
|
| ¼ cup |
unsalted grass-fed butter |
|
|
| ¾ cup |
quinoa cream or organic heavy cream |
|
|
| 1 teaspoon |
minced garlic |
|
|
| 6 ounces |
Parmesan cheese |
|
|
| ¼ cup |
fresh chopped parsley |
|
|
| ½ teaspoon |
sea salt |
|
|
Instructions
-
Step 2:
Heat avocado oil in a large skillet to medium-high heat.
-
Step 3:
Season chicken with Italian seasoning, sea salt, and cayenne pepper. (Tips: Ensure both sides are well-coated with seasoning.)
-
Step 4:
Add chicken to the skillet, and cook over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes per side, until cooked through. Remove from skillet and allow to rest for 5 minutes, then chop. (Tips: Letting the chicken rest helps retain juices.)
-
Step 5:
Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add butter and melt it, scraping up any browned bits.
-
Step 6:
Add heavy cream, bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low. (Tips: For a thicker sauce, whisk in ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum.)
-
Step 7:
Add garlic and Parmesan cheese, cook until the Parmesan is melted.
-
Step 8:
Stir in the chopped chicken, zucchini noodles, and parsley. Cook for 2 more minutes until warmed through. (Tips: Do not overcook zucchini noodles to prevent them from becoming too soft.)
Additional Information
Notes: Zucchini noodles offer a low-carb alternative to pasta, and salting them helps maintain their texture during cooking.
