I truly believe pasta deserves a permanent place in a balanced weekday routine. I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love it, and no, enjoying pasta doesn’t mean compromising your goals. This Spicy and Creamy Chicken Boursin Pasta was inspired by the viral Boursin pasta trend, but with a few nutrition-focused tweaks to make it lighter, higher in protein, and more meal-prep friendly.
From a coaching perspective, this dish works because it balances carbohydrates with lean protein and healthy fats. Using high-protein pasta and chicken keeps blood sugar more stable and improves satiety, while the creamy texture comes mostly from cheese and pasta water rather than heavy cream. The result is a healthy creamy pasta that feels indulgent but fits seamlessly into real life.
Whether you’re craving creamy chicken and garlic pasta, creamy chicken spinach pasta, or a spicy chicken chipotle pasta vibe, this recipe is flexible, flavour-packed, and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
- 300 g chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
Substitution:Â Ground chicken or turkey (works well for fans of healthy ground turkey pasta recipes). - 250 g dry high-protein pasta (lentil)
Substitution:Â Regular pasta (penne, rigatoni, or linguine). - 150 g Boursin cheese (garlic & herb)
Substitution:Â Light cream cheese + extra garlic and herbs. - 1 tablespoon olive oil (total)
Substitution:Â Avocado oil or olive oil spray. - 1 red pepper, sliced
Substitution: Spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms for a creamy chicken spinach pasta variation. - 200–300 g cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½–1 teaspoon chilli flakes or chilli powder, to taste
Coach tip: Adjust heat based on tolerance—this can easily become a spicy chicken chipotle pasta with chipotle powder. - 1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Reserved pasta water, as needed
- Optional:Â chopped parsley, grated parmesan (light sprinkle)
Step-by-Step Method
1. Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve one mug of pasta water, then drain.
Coach tip: Salting pasta water properly improves flavour without needing extra cheese later.
2. Sear the chicken
Heat half the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
Season chicken with smoked paprika, chilli, salt, and pepper.
Cook for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
Coach tip: Let the chicken sit undisturbed for better browning and flavour.
3. Cook the vegetables
Add remaining olive oil to the same pan.
Add garlic, red pepper, tomatoes, and oregano. Cook for 3–4 minutes until softened, then continue until tomatoes burst and release their juices.
Coach tip: This natural tomato juice becomes part of the sauce—no need for extra liquids yet.
4. Make the sauce
Lower the heat and add a splash of reserved pasta water.
Dice the chicken in the same pan, as it is cooked this should be easily done.
Add the Boursin cheese and stir until smooth and creamy.
Return the chicken to the pan and mix well.
Coach tip:Â Pasta water helps emulsify the sauce, keeping it creamy without heaviness.
5. Combine
Add cooked pasta and toss to coat evenly.
Add more pasta water as needed until the sauce lightly coats the pasta.
Adjust seasoning and spice level.
6. Serve
Finish with parsley and a light sprinkle of parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
Tips and Variations
- Add spinach at the end for a creamy chicken spinach pasta twist.
- Swap chicken for ground turkey to create one of your new favourite healthy ground turkey pasta recipes.
- Use chipotle powder instead of chilli flakes for a smoky spicy chicken chipotle pasta flavour.
- Stir in extra parmesan for a creamy parmesan chicken pasta finish.
- Double the recipe for a healthy meal prep pasta recipe that reheats beautifully.
Storage, Serving and Reheating
- Storage:Â Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Serving:Â Serve on its own or with a side salad for added volume.
- Reheating:Â Reheat gently on the stove or microwave with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
Final Note
If you try this Spicy and Creamy Chicken Boursin Pasta, I’d love to know how you made it your own. Leave a comment, share it with someone who loves pasta, or tag me on social media @alexarciab.
This dish proves that comfort food and nutrition can coexist. A creamy chicken and garlic pasta doesn’t need to be complicated or heavy to be deeply satisfying. Cook food you love, build balance into it, and enjoy every bite.
Alex 🙂
Spicy and Creamy Chicken Boursin Pasta
I truly believe pasta deserves a permanent place in a balanced weekday routine. I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love it, and no, enjoying pasta doesn’t mean compromising your goals. This Spicy and Creamy Chicken Boursin Pasta was inspired by the viral Boursin pasta trend, but with a few nutrition-focused tweaks to make it lighter, higher in protein, and more meal-prep friendly.
From a coaching perspective, this dish works because it balances carbohydrates with lean protein and healthy fats. Using high-protein pasta and chicken keeps blood sugar more stable and improves satiety, while the creamy texture comes mostly from cheese and pasta water rather than heavy cream. The result is a healthy creamy pasta that feels indulgent but fits seamlessly into real life.
Whether you’re craving creamy chicken and garlic pasta, creamy chicken spinach pasta, or a spicy chicken chipotle pasta vibe, this recipe is flexible, flavour-packed, and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
Instructions
Cook the pasta
-
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve one mug of pasta water, then drain. Coach tip: Salting pasta water properly improves flavour without needing extra cheese later.
Sear the chicken
-
Heat half the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
-
Season chicken with smoked paprika, chilli, salt, and pepper.
-
Cook for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Coach tip: Let the chicken sit undisturbed for better browning and flavour.
Cook the vegetables
-
Add remaining olive oil to the same pan.
-
Add garlic, red pepper, tomatoes, and oregano. Cook for 3–4 minutes until softened, then continue until tomatoes burst and release their juices. Coach tip: This natural tomato juice becomes part of the sauce, no need for extra liquids yet.
Make the sauce
-
Lower the heat and add a splash of reserved pasta water.
-
Dice the chicken in the same pan, as it is cooked this should be easily done.
-
Add the Boursin cheese and stir until smooth and creamy. Coach tip: Pasta water helps emulsify the sauce, keeping it creamy without heaviness.
Combine
-
Add cooked pasta and toss to coat evenly.
-
Add more pasta water as needed until the sauce lightly coats the pasta.
-
Adjust seasoning and spice level.
Serve
-
Finish with parsley and a light sprinkle of parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 ServingCalories:480kcalTotal Fat:18gTotal Carbohydrate:45gDietary Fiber: 6gSugars: 6gProtein:38g
Note
- Add spinach at the end for a creamy chicken spinach pasta twist.
- Swap chicken for ground turkey to create one of your new favourite healthy ground turkey pasta recipes.
- Use chipotle powder instead of chilli flakes for a smoky spicy chicken chipotle pasta flavour.
- Stir in extra parmesan for a creamy parmesan chicken pasta finish.
Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Serving: Serve on its own or with a side salad for added volume.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stove or microwave with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
