Garlic Butter Chicken Zucchini Noodles (Printable)
Tender chicken and zucchini noodles in rich garlic butter sauce
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
→ Garlic Butter Sauce
05 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
08 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
09 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
→ Zucchini Noodles
10 - 4 medium zucchinis, spiralized
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Garnish
12 - 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
# Steps:
01 - Season the chicken pieces evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika, ensuring all pieces are coated.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and sauté for 5–7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
03 - Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining butter to the same skillet. Add minced garlic, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
04 - Add the spiralized zucchini to the skillet and sprinkle with salt. Cook, tossing gently with tongs, for 2–3 minutes until just tender but not mushy.
05 - Return the chicken to the skillet and add lemon juice. Toss everything together until evenly coated and heated through, about 1–2 minutes.
06 - Divide the mixture evenly into 4 meal prep containers, ensuring each container has an equal portion of chicken and zucchini noodles.
07 - Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley just before serving or when reheating.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get all the comfort of creamy pasta without the heavy carb crash afterward
- Everything cooks in one pan so Sunday meal prep becomes actually relaxing instead of stressful
02 -
- Zucchini keeps releasing water even after cooking, so portion into containers relatively quickly to prevent sogginess
- The red pepper flakes quietly build heat, so start with less if you are sensitive to spice
03 -
- Pat your zucchini noodles dry with paper towels before cooking if you want extra firm noodles
- Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts if you plan to eat this later in the week