Complete meals that include a carbohydrate, a protein, and some vegetables have always seemed very interesting to me because they allow you to have everything in a single combination that results in a very appealing flavor.
While these types of dishes aren’t very common in traditional Mexican cuisine, we can easily adapt and fuse some concepts to create something interesting for the palate.
Today I’m sharing the list of recipes for chicken pasta, especially Mexican mix, in which we’ll use one of the most iconic sauces of Aztec cuisine: salsa verde. In Mexico, this sauce is eaten cold, but it can also be used in hot dishes such as chilaquiles or enchiladas.
Recipe #1) Pasta with Mexican-style chicken
Ingredients (for 2 people)
- Short dried pasta – 250 g
- Chicken breast – 1
- Cooked corn – 150 g
- Mexican green salsa – 100 g
- White onion – 0.5
- Crème Fraiche or fresh cream – 15 g
- Salt – to taste
Recipe Information:
Difficulty: Easy
Total time: 35 min
Elaboration: 10 min
Cooking: 25 min
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- We’re going to boil the chicken breast in salted water for about 25 minutes. When it’s cooked, we’ll remove it from the water and shred it.
- While the chicken is boiling, we’ll cook the pasta in another pot of boiling salted water for about 8 minutes. The idea is for it to be “al dente”. We’ll drain it and set it aside.
- Chop the onion and sauté it in a large skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add the Mexican green salsa and stir. Let it cook for another 5 minutes, then add the chicken and corn kernels.
- Stir well, season with salt, and finally add the cream. Let it simmer for another 8 to 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe #2) Pasta with Grilled Chicken
Preparation: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yields: 2 servings
Difficulty: easy
Recipe Description
Pasta with grilled chicken is the perfect choice for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. The delicious flavor of this recipe pairs beautifully with a side of vegetables or a salad for an even healthier option.
In case you didn’t know, grilled foods are characterized by being cooked on a grill, whether electric or traditional. With the help of the heat, the food is rendered fat‑free and cooked slowly without losing its essential nutrients, making it lighter and healthier.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken thighs with drumsticks, previously roasted
- 2 tablespoons of yellow butter
- 1 teaspoon of flour
- 1 cup of milk
- ½ cup of chicken broth
- 1 package of spaghetti
- 1 clove of garlic
- ½ cup of cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat a deep frying pan. For the sauce, pour in the butter and flour, stir well, and gradually add the milk, finishing with the chicken broth. Stir until everything is well combined.
- Incorporate the roasted and shredded chicken, add the cheese, stir and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place plenty of water in a deep pot until it comes to a boil, add plenty of salt and pour in the pasta, stir so that it does not stick together, leave for 7 minutes over high heat, drain and serve with sauce on top.
35+ Healthy Chicken Pasta Recipes
Below is a table of 35+ healthy chicken pasta recipes (including the two above) with meal name and main ingredients.
| # | Meal Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexican Chicken Pasta (Salsa Verde) | Short dried pasta, chicken breast, cooked corn, Mexican green salsa, white onion, crème fraîche, salt |
| 2 | Pasta with Grilled Chicken | Spaghetti, roasted chicken thighs, butter, flour, milk, chicken broth, garlic, cheese, salt, pepper |
| 3 | Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta | Whole wheat spaghetti, chicken breast, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, parsley, Parmesan |
| 4 | Chicken Broccoli Alfredo (Light) | Fettuccine, chicken breast, broccoli, low‑fat milk, Parmesan, garlic, nutmeg |
| 5 | Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta | Penne, chicken breast, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, tomato paste, onion, olive oil |
| 6 | Creamy Spinach Chicken Pasta | Rotini, chicken breast, fresh spinach, low‑fat cream cheese, garlic, vegetable broth |
| 7 | Pesto Chicken Pasta | Whole wheat pasta, chicken breast, basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, Parmesan |
| 8 | Chicken Mushroom Pasta | Farfalle, chicken breast, sliced mushrooms, onion, low‑fat sour cream, thyme |
| 9 | Cajun Chicken Pasta | Penne, chicken breast, Cajun seasoning, bell peppers, onion, light cream, tomato sauce |
| 10 | Chicken Zucchini Noodles Pasta | Zucchini noodles, chicken breast, garlic, olive oil, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil |
| 11 | Greek Chicken Pasta | Orzo, chicken breast, cucumber, tomato, feta cheese, olives, lemon vinaigrette |
| 12 | Chicken Pasta Primavera | Whole grain pasta, chicken breast, mixed spring vegetables, light Parmesan sauce |
| 13 | Sun‑Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta | Penne, chicken breast, sun‑dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, low‑fat milk |
| 14 | Chicken Puttanesca | Spaghetti, chicken breast, olives, capers, anchovy paste (optional), tomatoes, garlic |
| 15 | Chicken & Roasted Red Pepper Pasta | Rotini, chicken breast, jarred roasted red peppers, onion, light cream, smoked paprika |
| 16 | Chicken Carbonara (Lighter) | Spaghetti, chicken breast, egg, Parmesan, black pepper, turkey bacon (optional) |
| 17 | Buffalo Chicken Pasta | Whole wheat pasta, shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, low‑fat ranch or blue cheese dressing |
| 18 | Chicken Marsala Pasta | Fettuccine, chicken breast, Marsala wine, mushrooms, chicken broth, parsley |
| 19 | Chicken Pasta with Peas and Mint | Orzo, chicken breast, frozen peas, fresh mint, lemon zest, light yogurt sauce |
| 20 | Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta | Rice noodles, chicken breast, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime, carrot, cilantro |
| 21 | Chicken Pasta with Artichokes | Penne, chicken breast, canned artichoke hearts, lemon, garlic, olive oil, parsley |
| 22 | Chicken Sausage & Pasta Skillet | Whole wheat pasta, chicken sausage, bell peppers, onion, marinara sauce |
| 23 | Chicken Pasta with Butternut Squash | Rotini, chicken breast, roasted butternut squash, sage, low‑fat cream, Parmesan |
| 24 | Chicken & Kale Pasta | Farfalle, chicken breast, chopped kale, garlic, red pepper flakes, vegetable broth |
| 25 | Chicken Pasta with Asparagus | Spaghetti, chicken breast, asparagus spears, lemon, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan |
| 26 | Chicken Pasta Salad (Cold) | Whole wheat macaroni, shredded chicken, celery, red onion, Greek yogurt dressing |
| 27 | Chicken & White Bean Pasta | Ditalini, chicken breast, cannellini beans, spinach, tomato broth, rosemary |
| 28 | Chicken Pasta with Eggplant | Penne, chicken breast, diced eggplant, tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil |
| 29 | Chicken & Broccoli Pasta Bake | Whole wheat pasta, chicken breast, broccoli, low‑fat cheese, milk, breadcrumb topping |
| 30 | Chicken Pasta with Cauliflower Alfredo | Fettuccine, chicken breast, steamed cauliflower, garlic, nutritional yeast, almond milk |
| 31 | Chicken & Caramelized Onion Pasta | Spaghetti, chicken breast, caramelized onions, balsamic vinegar, thyme, Parmesan |
| 32 | Chicken Pasta with Fennel | Penne, chicken breast, sliced fennel, orange zest, fennel seeds, olive oil |
| 33 | Chicken Pasta in Pumpkin Sauce | Rotini, chicken breast, pumpkin puree, sage, nutmeg, low‑fat milk, Parmesan |
| 34 | Chicken Pasta with Olives & Capers | Linguine, chicken breast, green olives, capers, cherry tomatoes, garlic, white wine (optional) |
| 35 | Chicken Pasta with Arugula & Lemon | Whole wheat spaghetti, chicken breast, fresh arugula, lemon juice, olive oil, shaved Parmesan |
| 36 | Chicken Pasta with Bell Pepper Pesto | Penne, chicken breast, roasted red bell pepper, walnuts, basil, garlic, olive oil |
| 37 | Chicken & Swiss Chard Pasta | Farfalle, chicken breast, chopped Swiss chard, garlic, white beans, chicken broth |