Big Fat Healthy Chicken Pasta Recipes

Is it odd to put healthy and pasta in the same sentence? Let’s talk about that.

When I was strolling through the very fashionable streets of Milan, I marveled at the slender people. Even the golden Italians in their 60’s, 70’s and beyond had trim figures. Yet every where I turned, these trim pretty people were eating forkfuls of pasta.

Italians view pasta as a small dish eaten as a first course. We Americans view pasta as a cheat day, piled high on a large plate with possible seconds. They also don’t snack on a ton of carb-laden crunchies in between. If pasta is your main starch of the day, enjoy pasta and know you’re eating like those slender Italians that walk the streets in high heels, skinny jeans, and big scarves.

Enjoy these Big Fat Healthy Chicken Pasta Dishes

Here are some of my favorite chicken pasta dishes that aren’t necessarily Italian, but will give you some ways to enjoy pasta in a healthier way that satisfies the conscience and the appetite.

Most of these are from my Spinach Tiger Kitchen, but I’ve included a few links which other homecooks have mastered. If you have a wonderful chicken pasta dish, please let me know, and I might just link it.

Before I go any further, I do want to say that most of my pasta dishes these days are made with gluten free pasta. The one pasta that I think is the absolute closest to wheat pasta is from Ronzoni. It heats up really well without falling apart, which is a typical complaint of gluten free pastas. Some of these dishes used other brands, but since I’ve written those posts, I have found this to be my favorite.

Italian Chicken with Pasta Shells Recipe Here

This may be the easiest of any pasta dish. Everything is fresh and this takes about 20 minutes to prepare. It’s a combination of roasted grape tomatoes, fresh spinach and pasta shells.

Chicken Pistachio Pesto Pasta Recipe Here

Ever since I substituted the typical pine nuts in pesto for pistachios, I’m more in love with pesto than ever. This is one of those dishes that your family will ask for again and again, so make double pesto and freeze it. (Feel Free to exchange pasta for zoodles)

Mexican Chicken Pasta with Avocado Recipe Here

Here’s a dish that is big on flavor and pizazz. I suggest taking some corn chips and crushing some over the dish the way you’ll often see breadcrumbs added to pasta. In this recipe I like a corn pasta for obvious reasons.

Healthy Lemon Chicken Pasta with Asparagus Recipe Here

When Spring arrives with that first batch of asparagus, this is what we make. It’s elegant, lemony and oh that asparagus!

Chicken Marsala with Pasta Recipe Here

This is as good as it looks. Save this for a special dinner or for company, as they will be impressed.

Lighter Version of Chicken Parmesan Recipe here.

Here is the “no big gobs of cheese” chicken parm, but I have that recipe too.

Thai Peanut Bowl with Rice Noodles Recipe Here

You have to keep things interesting. Skewers of chicken cooked on the grill and added to rice noodles with big peanut flavor will make your taste buds dance.

Three Cheese Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe Here

This might not be the “healthiest” with three cheeses, but every now and again, we need this kind of comfort food. Start to stop, it’s a 60 minute dish. Much of this can be made ahead. I used Ronzoni gluten free pasta and it’s so good, you really can’t tell the difference. Their secret is using four grains to balance the texture.