I’ve been on an Italian chicken kick recently and have been making tons of Italian impressed chicken dishes. First, it was the chicken piccata, then I made a healthy variation of chicken cacciatore, chicken Florentine, chicken Marsala, and now chicken carbonara.
While these pasta recipes have many of the identical flavors, I like placing a healthy twist on them. I’ll typically use veggies as an alternative of pasta for a tasty model decrease in carbs.
Classic Chicken Carbonara
Creamy chicken carbonara is commonly made with an alfredo sauce or creamy sauce and served over fettuccine, bucatini, or linguine pasta. More Americanized variations will even use penne pasta. Traditionally this pasta dish is made with an egg combination sauce as an alternative of alfredo. Italians whisk collectively pasta water, egg yolks, and arduous cheese (like pecorino Romano) to make the creamy sauce.
An Updated Chicken Pasta
I substituted spaghetti squash for the pasta to make a grain-free model. I additionally made a more healthy (and elective) carbonara sauce and added some wilted spinach and asparagus for taste and further nutrition. Instead of pancetta, which might be arduous to seek out, this recipe makes use of crispy bacon.
This is an multi function dish with protein, healthy fat, and many of veggies. And because it’s cooked in a single pan, there aren’t many dishes to clean. I exploit a skillet, however you would additionally use a giant pot in case your skillet isn’t huge enough.
My youngsters appreciated this one and ate it with out grievance!
Chicken Carbonara Over Spaghetti Squash
Delicious and healthy chicken carbonara served over nutrient-packed spaghetti squash.
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Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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Cut the spaghetti squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon.
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Place them face down on a baking sheet or in a giant baking dish with ¼ inch of water. Cook for half-hour or till tender when poked with a fork.
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While the squash is cooking, butterfly the chicken by slicing it in half lengthwise.
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Pound it with a meat hammer or the underside of a forged iron pan till it’s ¼ to ½ inch thick.
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In a giant skillet over medium-high warmth, place the asparagus in about ¼ inch of water. Cook over high warmth till the asparagus is brilliant inexperienced and beginning to soften. Once the water has evaporated add 1 Tablespoon butter and sprinkle with some sea salt.
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Remove the asparagus from the pan and put aside.
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In the identical pan, prepare dinner bacon till crispy.
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Remove the bacon and prepare dinner the skinless chicken breast within the bacon grease, sprinkling all sides with some of the sea salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
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Remove the cooked chicken and set it apart.
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Saute the onion within the remaining bacon grease till comfortable.
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Add the spinach and further butter or olive oil if needed and prepare dinner till the spinach is barely wilted.
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Add the cream if utilizing and about ¼ teaspoon of the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
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At this level, the spaghetti squash must be comfortable so take away it from the oven and drain off the water. Scrape out the insides with a fork. It must be a little al dente, not mushy.
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To serve, put some spaghetti squash on a plate, high with some wilted spinach, then a piece of chicken, some crumbled bacon, and the asparagus.
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Garnish with Parmesan if utilizing.
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Carbonara Over Spaghetti Squash
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 356
Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 78mg26%
Sodium 1016mg44%
Potassium 865mg25%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 21g42%
Vitamin A 4898IU98%
Vitamin C 21mg25%
Calcium 203mg20%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie diet.
If you don’t have Parmesan cheese then Romano may also work.
Would you do that model of chicken carbonara? What’s your favourite chicken dish? Share under!