Pasta is one of the most widely-consumed meals in the world. Traditionally made from wheat, it’s easy to prepare and delicious, especially when paired with something like chicken.
Due to the recent popularity of the Keto diet, pasta has gotten a bad reputation for not being healthy. Some will even claim it is unhealthy.
But as reported by Healthline, “When eaten in moderation, pasta can be part of a healthy diet”
Tips to Make your Pasta with Chicken Recipes Healthier
- Include vegetables in your pasta dishes. This adds a lot of necessary nutrients to your recipes.
- Buy gluten-free pasta if you’re sensitive to protein
- Go for whole-grain pasta. It has higher fiber content, many other nutrients, and lower calories and refined carbs.
With those tips in mind let’s check our recipe selection of the best healthy pasta recipes with chicken to try.
Healthy Chicken Pasta Recipes
1. Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
This pasta recipe is packed with goodness. It is made with chicken, spinach, and pasta with cream for flavor. It’s healthy and tasty thanks to protein from the chicken and extra nutrients from the spinach. The creamy Tuscan flavors will also make this meal an instant heat at the dinner table.
This recipe will take you around 30 minutes to prepare and cook. It can also be considered a complete meal. Therefore, you don’t have to make any sides for it.
Ingredients
- 10 oz short pasta gluten-free if needed, whole wheat, or lentil pasta
- 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breast chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil or use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste
- 8 oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained and chopped
- 3 cups almond milk any other milk, or use lite coconut cream
- 2 tbsp gluten-free flour
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2. Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
This pasta recipe combines chicken and spinach with pasta on one healthy plate. To taste, you can also add spices like garlic, lemon, and white wine. Even better, it’s a one-pan meal. So cleaning up after cooking will be a straightforward job.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces gluten-free penne pasta or whole-wheat penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, trimmed, if necessary, and cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 10 cups chopped fresh spinach
- 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
3. Healthy chicken pasta
This healthy chicken pasta consists of chicken, baby spinach, and pasta made with olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, basil, and other ingredients. It’s tasty and, most importantly, low on calories.
Ingredients
- 1–2 chicken breasts, boneless, skin removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for rubbing
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- pinch chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 300g/10½oz tomato passata
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 200g/7oz whole wheat penne pasta
- 200g/7oz broccoli, sliced into bite-sized chunks
- 125g/4½oz baby spinach, washed (optional)
- ½ bunch basil, leaves picked (optional)
- 1–2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan (optional)
4. Healthier Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Chicken Alfredo Pasta is made with whole grain pasta, chicken breasts, chicken broth, and some spinach, along with the usual spices plus milk for taste. You can also add cheese. Overall, it makes for a creamy and satisfying pasta meal that’s also healthy to eat.
Ingredients
- for 4 servings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken broth(240 mL)
- 1 cup skim milk(240 mL), or milk of choice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups spinach(80 g)
- 2 cups whole grain penne pasta(400 g), cooked
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese(30 g), optional
5. One Pot Healthy Chicken Parm Pasta
Chicken Parm pasta looks good and tastes even better. Made from chicken and pasta mixed with garlic and a host of other spices, this healthy pasta recipe is an all-in-one meal that will likely appeal to the whole family. You can prepare it in a single pot, making cleaning up easier.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast raw, cubed
- 2 tsp kosher salt divided
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder divided
- 1 tsp onion powder
- olive oil spray
- 1 onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
- 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 16 oz pasta dry, 1 box; used: Barilla Penne
- 4 oz light mozzarella
- 1/4 cup parsley fresh
6. Healthy Tuscan Chicken Pasta (One Pot)
This Tuscan pasta recipe is packed with flavors. Thanks to its creamy, cheesy, and garlicky Tuscan flavors, it looks good and tastes good, and the addition of spinach and sun-dried tomatoes make it a healthy meal. It is also easy to prepare; you can have it ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless & skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth low sodium
- 3 cups short pasta like penne fusilli or bow ties
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 tbsp oil for frying
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes chopped
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 large garlic clove grated
- 1/2 tsp salt divided
- Ground black pepper to taste
7. Healthy chicken pasta bake
This chicken pasta bake is made with wholemeal penne, chicken breasts, carton passata, ricotta, and courgette cooked with spices for taste. It’s tasty and, most importantly, low in calories and fat and high in fiber. You’ll also get a good portion of proteins and carbohydrates from one serving of this delicious meal.
Ingredients
- 300g wholemeal penne
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 peppers (we used 1 yellow and 1 orange), deseeded and chopped
- 1 large courgette (160g), coarsely grated
- 3 large garlic cloves, finely grated
- 500g carton passata
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1½ tsp vegetable bouillon powder
- 1 tsp chilli powder (optional)
- 25g Kalamata olives (about 8), sliced
- 400g chicken breasts (2 large), cut into pieces
- large handful of basil, chopped, plus extra to serve
- 100g ricotta
- 20g finely grated mature cheddar
8. Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
One of the best things about chicken and pasta is that you can make a creamy comfort meal without compromising on the health side. This particular meal combines the tasty flavors of pasta and chicken with those of healthy spinach, creamy parmesan cheese, garlic, and seasonings.
It will take you less than 30 minutes to make this incredible dish.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dry pasta (any kind)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup tomatoes diced
- 2 cups spinach chopped, optional
- 2 cups heavy cream (or 16 oz)
- 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese shredded or grated
- salt & pepper to taste
9. Chicken Pasta Salad
If you want something to be healthy, all you have to do is make a salad out of it. This chicken pasta salad is packed with veggies, and the chicken, pasta, and bacon are coated in a creamy dressing. It’s very easy to prepare and will be ready to serve in less than 20 minutes. You can take it as a light lunch or a side dish.
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta (penne or fusilli work well)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 bacon rashers
- 150 g chicken breast chopped into chunks
- 10 kalamata olives destoned and halved
- 10 cherry tomatoes quartered
- 4 tablespoon basil chopped
- 4 spring onions (scallions) sliced
- 0.5 red pepper chopped
- 0.5 green pepper
- 0.25 cucumber diced
- 0.5 lemon juice only
- 4 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 Pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 30 g spinach
- 60 g feta
10. Easy Chicken Pasta
As in the name, easy chicken pasta is quick and easy to make. All you need is some whole-grain pasta, diced vegetables, chicken, and broccoli for the main ingredients. It is low on fats and calories, making it a healthy quick meal.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 6 ounces dried multigrain or whole-grain penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green pepper, celery and onions, undrained
- 1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil or oregano
- 1 pinch Shaved Parmesan cheese
11. Healthy Creamy Chicken and Pasta
pasta ensures that your serving remains within an acceptable calorie range. The pasta is cooked with chicken breasts, fresh mushrooms, and fat-free mushroom soup. There are also some garlic and red pepper flakes to taste.
The recipe will take about 30 minutes to prepare and cook.
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) package whole wheat penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can fat-free cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup water, or as needed
- 1 pinch garlic salt, or to taste
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
12. Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil
Salads are a healthy package full of flavor. This pasta salad is loaded with avocado, tomatoes, and basil to go with the chicken and salad. It’s fast, easy to prepare, and can be taken as lunch or a light dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 medium cooked chicken breasts, shredded or chopped (we used rotisserie chicken)
- 2 ripe avocado pitted and diced
- 1 pound cooked rotini pasta or similar
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup freshly chopped basil
- Salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
- Dressing
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
13. Spicy Chicken Pasta
The Spicy Chicken Pasta is another easy and relatively quick-to-make recipe. It adds a spicy flavor to an already tasty combination of chicken and pasta, giving you a flavorful and creamy pot of pasta greatness.
Ingredients
- Chicken
- 1x 9oz/250g Chicken Breast, at room temp
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- Pasta
- 7oz / 200g Linguine (or other long cut pasta)
- 2/3 cup / 160ml Heavy/Double Cream
- 1/3 cup / 80ml Chicken Stock
- 1/4 cup / 60ml Dry White Wine
- 1oz / 30g Parmesan, finely grated
- 6 (2oz/60g) Sun Dried Tomatoes, finely diced
- 2 tbsp Tomato Puree (tomato paste in US)
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, finely diced
- 1 small Onion, finely diced
- 1 tsp Garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp Chilli Flakes
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
14. Chicken Vegetable Pasta
Adding plenty of veggies to your chicken and pasta dish makes it a healthy meal. And that’s what this recipe does; you get to enjoy a hearty serving of pasta and chicken mixed with your favorite veggies and flavored with lemon juice, fresh minced garlic, basil, and parsley. It will take you less than 20 minutes to prepare it.
Ingredients
- ½ pound whole wheat or gluten-free spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts , or thighs
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ cup chicken stock, or vegetable stock
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese, optional
15. Creamy pasta with broccoli, peas, and lemon
This healthy recipe is made with pasta, chicken, broccoli, peas, and lemon mixed with delicious cream. The pasta is whole wheat, which adds to the fiber content, and the cream reduce-fat to lower the calorie count.
Ingredients
- 240g/8½oz whole wheat penne pasta
- 200g/7oz long-stemmed broccoli, trimmed and each stalk cut into three pieces
- 100g/3½oz frozen peas
- 175g/7oz reduced-fat crème fraîche
- 1 small lemon, finely grated zest only
- 25g/1oz Parmesan cheese, finely grated, plus extra for serving
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
16. One-Pan Creamy Chicken & Gnocchi
One-pan meals are easy to cook and don’t require much cleaning up afterward. This creamy pasta recipe features some chicken, mushrooms, baby spinach, and gnocchi cooked with extra-virgin olive oil.
Black pepper, thyme leaves, fresh garlic, and red pepper flakes are also added to the taste.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 small shallot, diced
- 8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 c. low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/4 c. half and half
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 (17-oz.) package gnocchi
- 3/4 c. shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan
- 3 c. packed baby spinach
17. Chicken, Spinach & Artichoke Lasagna
This recipe layers spinach-artichoke dip with lasagna to create a super comfortable but healthy meal. Add some cream sauce to that, and you’re in for a tasty experience. The total cook time is around one and a quarter hours.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lasagna noodles
- 3 tbsp. butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 3 c. milk (preferably whole or 2%)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 c. freshly grated Parmesan
- 2 c. shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 lb. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess liquid
- 1 (15-oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 2 (15-oz.) containers part-skim ricotta
- 4 c. shredded mozzarella
18. Perfect Chicken Alfredo
This pasta recipe will have you making your pasta sauce, which is, more often than not, more delicious than what you can get off store shelves. It’s a one-pot meal, so all the pasta, tomatoes, chicken, and spinach will cook in one pan.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 c. whole milk
- 1 1/2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz. fetuccini
- 1/2 c. heavy cream
- 1 c. freshly grated Parmesan
- Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
19. Caprese Chicken Pasta
Caprese chicken pasta is a delicious-looking meal. It’s made with chicken, pasta noodles, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. Its flavor is also enhanced by adding some Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and freshly ground black pepper.
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 c. sugar
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 11 oz. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, divided
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 12 oz. cooked short pasta noodles (such as penne or spiral)
- 1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 oz. fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
20. Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
This recipe is a creamy and delicious mix of chicken, pasta, and spinach with garlic seasoning to taste. Although you can use any pasta you like, whole wheat pasta is the best option since it’s high on fiber and low on calories and enhanced carbs.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dry pasta (any kind)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup tomatoes diced
- 2 cups spinach chopped, optional
- 2 cups heavy cream (or 16 oz)
- 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese shredded or grated
- salt & pepper to taste
21. Chicken pasta recipe
This chicken pasta recipe is straightforward to make. This is because it’s basic with no exotic spices and/or spices. All you need is some spaghetti, chicken, and fresh tomatoes for the main ingredients and chili, cloves, salt, and pepper to taste.
Ingredients
- 160 grams pasta (or spaghetti)
- 150 to 200 grams Chicken (shredded or cubed as desired)
- 2 to 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 3 garlic (cloves about 1 tbsp very finely chopped)
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 350 grams tomatoes (ripe red or 1 ½ cup deseeded chopped)
- 1 tsp red chilli (flakes)
- ½ to ¾ tsp pepper (coarsely crushed)
- 2 to 3 pinches All spice powder (or any other spice powder if desired)
- Salt ( as needed)
- ½ tsp Herbs (as desired)
22. Awesome Lemon Chicken Pasta
Lemon pasta is as delicious and nutritious as it gets. The recipe mixes chicken, pasta, spinach, lemon, leeks, and parmesan in a single pot of greatness.
Ingredients
- tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound pasta (I used penne)
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 leek, sliced into rounds (white & light green part only)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced into half-moons
- zest of 1 lemon
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- ½ cup grated parmesan
23. Chicken Pasta Recipe
This recipe brings in chicken, pasta, beans, cheese, carrots, celery, and a whole lot of spices into a delicious but healthy serving. It’s surprisingly easy to make, taking 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup water
- 2 tsp salt
- 1.5 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup penne pasta
- 2 pieces butter
- 1/2 cup chicken, boiled
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic
- 1 tsp celery
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 2 tbsp carrot
- 2 tbsp beans
- 2 tbsp chicken stock
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 1 tbsp cream
- 2 tsp cheese, shredded
24. SKILLET CHICKEN PENNE PASTA RECIPE
Made with boneless skinless chicken, whole wheat pasta, and crushed tomatoes, this is a relatively easy recipe that should take about 30 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 package 13 ounces whole wheat penne (or other pasta)
25. Chicken With Spinach and Pasta
Chicken with spinach and pasta is as simple as it sounds; you just cook your pasta with spinach and some chicken. You can also add cheese, black pepper, and cloves to taste.
Ingredients
- 20 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 cup chicken broth, more as needed
- 6 ounces shell pasta, or similar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 dash kosher salt, or to taste
- 1 dash freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1 pound grilled boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, more for serving
Final Take
Pasta is a popular meal that’s gotten a bad reputation as being unhealthy.
While it certainly can be unhealthy if mixed with high-calorie sauces, it doesn’t have to be. as these recipes have proven. All you need to keep your pasta dishes healthy is to eat whole wheat options and add a good portion of veggies. And once you add some chicken, you’re in for a tasty pasta lunch, dinner, or salad.
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