You know those nights when you’re craving comfort food but also don’t want to feel like you just ate three days’ worth of calories in one sitting? Yep, been there. Alfredo usually gets a bad rep for being super heavy, but this lighter version with chicken and broccoli is surprisingly guilt-free—and honestly, it still tastes like the cozy dish you remember. Plus, you’re sneaking in veggies without even trying (win-win!).

And the best part? It’s a one-pan kinda situation, so you’re not scrubbing pots for hours.

Recipe Card

Healthy Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups uncooked pasta, preferably whole-wheat (6.8 ounces)
• 4 cups chopped raw broccoli
• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes (about 1 pound)
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper (or to taste)
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2/3 cup non-fat or low-fat milk
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta & broccoli – Boil pasta according to the package, tossing in the broccoli during the last 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Season the chicken – Toss chicken with 1 tablespoon flour, salt, and pepper.
3. Brown the chicken – Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add chicken and cook until golden and just cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
4. Make the sauce base – In the same skillet, add remaining oil and garlic. Stir for about 30 seconds. Sprinkle in remaining flour, whisking constantly. Slowly pour in chicken broth, milk, and half-and-half, whisking until smooth.
5. Add flavor – Stir in Dijon mustard, thyme, and Parmesan. Let it thicken for 2–3 minutes.
6. Bring it together – Add cooked pasta, broccoli, and chicken back to the skillet. Toss until coated in that creamy, dreamy sauce.
7. Serve – Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top (because more cheese is never wrong).

FAQs

Healthy Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli

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• Author: Emily
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

A hearty and healthy chicken broccoli pasta dish with a creamy Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a balanced and comforting dinner.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 1/2 cups uncooked whole-wheat pasta (6.8 ounces)
• 4 cups chopped raw broccoli
• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes (about 1 pound)
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper (or to taste)
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2/3 cup non-fat or low-fat milk
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)

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Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside.
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then toss with 1 tablespoon flour to coat.
3. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden and cooked through, then transfer to a plate.
4. Add remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil and garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Whisk in remaining flour until smooth, then slowly add the broth while whisking.
6. Add milk, half-and-half, Dijon mustard, and thyme. Simmer until thickened, about 3–5 minutes.
7. Stir in Parmesan cheese and return chicken to the skillet. Add pasta and broccoli and mix until coated and heated through.
8. Serve warm with additional Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor. You can substitute whole-wheat pasta with regular if preferred.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 410
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 520mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 6g
• Protein: 38g
• Cholesterol: 90mg

Keywords: chicken, broccoli, pasta, creamy, parmesan, healthy

Conclusion

So there you go—a lighter take on Alfredo that still delivers all the comfort. You’ve got your protein, your greens, your cheesy sauce, and that pasta bite that makes dinner feel complete. Honestly, who knew swapping in a few tweaks (like Dijon mustard, trust me on that one!) could make a dish feel fancy but still be, like, Tuesday-night-easy?

Next time you’re tempted to order takeout, just whip this up—you’ll have dinner on the table before the delivery guy even leaves the restaurant.