Garlic Butter Chicken Zucchini Noodles (Printer-friendly)
Tender chicken and zucchini noodles tossed in a savory garlic butter sauce—ready in 35 minutes for easy low-carb meal prep.
# What You’ll 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 or basil oregano thyme mix
08 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
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
# How to Make It:
01 - Combine chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, and paprika, ensuring even coating on all surfaces.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken and sauté for 5–7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and reserve.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining butter to the skillet along with minced garlic, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
04 - Add spiralized zucchini to the skillet and sprinkle with salt. Cook, tossing gently with tongs, for 2–3 minutes until just tender-crisp. Avoid overcooking to prevent mushy texture.
05 - Return the chicken to the skillet. Add lemon juice and toss everything together until evenly coated with the garlic butter sauce and heated through, about 1–2 minutes.
06 - Divide the mixture evenly among 4 meal prep containers, ensuring balanced portions of chicken and zucchini noodles in each.
07 - Top each container with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley just before serving or at time of reheating.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The garlic butter sauce clings to every strand of zucchini, making you forget you are eating vegetables instead of pasta
- Meal prep containers actually look appetizing for days, and the flavors somehow get better as they meld together
02 -
- Zucchini releases water as it sits, which can turn your beautiful garlic butter sauce into a watery puddle by day three of meal prep
- I learned to slightly undercook the zucchini in the skillet so the residual heat finishes it without making it mushy
03 -
- Pat your chicken completely dry with paper towels before seasoning, otherwise it will steam instead of sear and you will miss that golden crust
- Spiralize your zucchinis the night before and store them in a colander over a bowl to drain excess water before cooking