Chicken Alfredo Zucchini Noodles Garlic (Print version)

Tender chicken and zucchini noodles in a rich garlic Alfredo sauce. A lighter, gluten-free favorite.

# What you need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips (approximately 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Zucchini Noodles

05 - 4 medium zucchinis, spiralized (approximately 1.5 lbs)
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Alfredo Sauce

07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml)
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 50 g)
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - Salt, to taste

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
15 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Season the chicken strips with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
02 - Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add butter and melt completely. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer, then add Parmesan cheese, nutmeg if using, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Stir continuously until cheese melts and sauce thickens, about 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Toss zucchini noodles gently in the sauce to coat evenly. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until noodles are tender but retain some crispness.
05 - Return cooked chicken strips to the skillet. Mix thoroughly with noodles and sauce. Warm through for 1 to 2 minutes.
06 - Plate immediately and garnish with chopped parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like classic Alfredo but won't leave you feeling overstuffed.
  • The whole thing comes together in 40 minutes, so weeknight dinners actually happen.
  • Zucchini noodles soak up that garlicky cream like they were made for it.
02 -
  • Zucchini noodles release water as they sit, so serve this immediately or the sauce gets diluted and watery—no amount of cheese can fix that.
  • Keep the heat on medium or medium-low when melting the cheese into cream; high heat breaks the sauce and leaves you with scrambled, grainy texture.
03 -
  • Slice your chicken thinner rather than thicker; thin strips cook evenly and pick up that golden crust that makes people ask for the recipe.
  • Don't skip the nutmeg—a tiny whisper of it makes people taste something familiar but can't quite name it, which is the definition of good cooking.

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