Name: Creamy Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta (Low Carb)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 ounces lupini pasta, any shape (I like Kaizen!); 3 strips thick-cut bacon; 1/2 pound boneless/skinless chicken thighs (about 2-3 pieces); ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper; 1-½ teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1 tablespoon grass-fed butter; 1 large shallot or small onion, sliced thin; 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 4-5 large cloves); 3 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley (plus more for garnish); ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes; ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth; 3/4 -1 cup heavy cream or whipping cream; ½-¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

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This Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta is a low-carb, keto-friendly, high-protein dish full of rich, comforting flavor! Tender chicken, crispy bacon, and protein-packed lupini pasta are tossed in a creamy, indulgent parmesan garlic sauce. It's an easy pasta dinner that proves you don’t need traditional pasta to enjoy a satisfying, crave-worthy meal!

A serving of low-carb chicken garlic parmesan pasta with a fork.

a high-protein chicken pasta

Garlic lovers, creamy sauce enthusiasts, and low-carb foodies—this one’s for you. This garlic parmesan chicken pasta brings all of your carb-y, creamy pasta dreams to life without affecting your macros.

One serving of this high-protein chicken pasta delivers 30 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber! That's a pasta WIN.

Featuring al dente lupini pasta, tender, juicy chicken, a luxuriously creamy garlic sauce, and crispy bacon for extra flavor and crunch, this delicious dish truly is the ultimate comfort food experience.

I like to pair this garlic chicken pasta recipe with a simple side salad like this Fennel Cucumber Salad with Creamy Shallot Vinaigrette or Spinach and Kale Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing.

However, my family and I love it as a stand-alone meal too! It's so filling and totally hits the spot!

why this recipe works

So, what's the special ingredient behind this low-carb and high protein chicken pasta dish?

The lupini pasta made from lupini beans! Packed with protein and fiber while remaining low in carbs, it’s the perfect alternative to traditional pasta. Not only that, it’s gluten-free, grain free, and entirely vegan.

While not traditional pasta, it's pretty much as close as you can get to the real deal, and it's the same pasta I use in my low-carb mac and cheese recipe, another reader favorite.

Its chewy texture and ability to absorb flavors make it the perfect vessel for this creamy garlic parmesan sauce.

Closeup of the lupini pasta for chicken garlic parmesan pasta recipe.

My favorite lupini pasta brand is Kaizen, and it's a pantry staple.

They offer a variety of shapes, from ziti to fusilli, and each one has a taste and texture that is spot on.

The lupin pasta is also packed with 20 grams of protein, 15 grams of fiber, and just 6 grams of net carbs, delivering essential nutrients while keeping things low-carb. (I love it so much, I have a discount code for you! Use code StemandSpoon for 15% off.)

My chicken garlic parmesan pasta is:

An easy chicken pasta recipe made with simple ingredients and doable on busy weeknights!
Low-carb and gluten-free thanks to lupini pasta, a nutrient-dense pasta alternative made with lupini beans.
Creamy and flavorful to satisfy all of your comfort food cravings.
So similar to traditional pasta, you won't even miss the real thing.

the ingredients

Here's a look at what you'll need to make this garlic Parmesan chicken pasta recipe.

Be sure to scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all of the details and ingredient amounts.

Ingredients for chicken garlic parmesan pasta on a beige surface.

Lupini pasta: My go-to brand is Kaizen, but any lupini pasta will work.
Thick-cut bacon: Adds savory flavor and a satisfying, crunchy texture to the pasta.
Boneless/skinless chicken thighs: I like to use chicken thighs, as they are more tender and flavorful than chicken breasts. The great thing about this recipe though, is you can certainly swap in your own favorite cut of chicken.
Butter: To sautè the aromatics for a rich and indulgent flavor.
Shallot: This fancier onion elevates the flavor profile of this dish. You can use a small onion if you don't have shallots on hand.
Garlic: Fresh garlic is a must for that delicious garlic parmesan flavor! You can even use a pinch of garlic powder to kick up the flavor.
Fresh parsley: This gets mixed in the cream sauce but is also used as a garnish.
Chicken broth: To deglaze the pan and add extra savory flavor. Vegetable broth also works.
Heavy cream: What makes this sauce creamy and indulgent. Any kind of heavy cream or whipping cream will do the trick!
Grated Parmesan cheese: Creates a deliciously cheesy sauce. Freshly grated is best!

pasta substitute

If you don’t have lupini pasta, another low-carb or high-protein pasta of your choice will work.

Lupin pasta cooks in just a few minutes to the perfect al dente pasta texture, so if you're swapping in another low-carb pasta, just make sure to cook the pasta according to the package instructions.

You can also stir in zucchini noodles or cooked spaghetti squash (about 2 to 2-½ cups). Be aware that these alternatives will slightly change the dish's texture, flavor, and nutritional profile.

creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe

This high-protein chicken pasta has been a regular in my dinner lineup ever since I first made it. My whole family loves it (especially my three kiddos!) and we always devour the whole dish!

It’s easy to make and always satisfies my craving for a creamy, cheesy pasta dish.

Here’s a look at the process, but check out the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all of the details.

Step 1: To start, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the lupini pasta and cook for 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: In a large skillet or braiser pan, add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side or until medium crisp. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 3: Spoon out all of the bacon grease except about 2 tablespoons. Season the chicken thighs, then cook on medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side or until done. Remove and set aside with the bacon. Once the chicken and bacon are cool enough to handle, chop into bite-sized pieces.

Cooking shallots with parsley in a dark pan.

Step 4: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the broth and heavy cream and heat until warm, then stir in the Parmesan and let it melt to thicken the sauce.

Step 5: Toss in the cooked pasta, then add the chicken and bacon. Heat for 1-2 more minutes. Add more Parmesan to thicken as needed, or a few splashes more of the cream if you need it to be more saucy.

Chicken garlic parmesan pasta in a beige bowl.

Serve hot, topped with grated more parmesan and parsley, if desired.

tips for best results

Once the lupini pasta is added, it will soak up the sauce a bit. If you want the pasta dish to be a little creamier, you can stir in additional splashes of chicken broth or cream. Add more parmesan to thicken, as needed.
For extra ease, use pre-cooked chicken (like rotisserie!) and stir it in at the very end, along with the bacon. Any kind of chicken will do- whether you're using boneless skinless chicken breasts chopped up, or pre-cooked chicken thighs like I used in the recipe.

storage

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to reheat, add a splash of milk or cream to the pasta and warm it up in a pan on the stove over medium heat until heated through.