Healthy Brown Rice Penne Chicken

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Published 2/7/2022
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Gluten Free
Healthy Brown Rice Penne Chicken

Gluten-free pasta joins chicken breast strips and mozzarella cheese in this tantalizing chicken and pasta dish. Try this hearty, garlicky option for an irresistible pasta bake that brings big flavor to the table. It’s sure to become a family favorite!

Total Time
60 minutes
Servings
6
Calories
327
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Why You’ll Love Our Healthy Chicken Penne Pasta Recipe

This gluten free chicken recipe is both delicious and nutritious. The celiac friendly dinner combines gluten free pasta made from brown rice with juicy chicken, colorful broccoli and melty cheese for a filling and flavorful meal. It’s easy to make and it’s also easy to adapt to include other ingredients.

Getting this chicken dinner on the table is a piece of cake. All you need to do is cook up a box of pasta and then combine it with the chicken, veggies and cheese in a casserole dish and pop it in the oven. It’s a healthy chicken dish that works well for meal prep and also fits into many diets.

Brown rice pasta is gluten free pasta that is made from whole grain brown rice flour. Compared to traditional pasta, it is a good source of fiber and also contains healthy nutrients such as magnesium, manganese and selenium. Brown rice pasta is similar in flavor and texture to wheat based pasta so it can be a great alternative when you want pasta with no gluten and lots of nutrition.

Many pasta recipes tend to be loaded with carbs and calories, but this chicken and vegetable pasta dish is loaded with healthy fiber and nutrients, as well as taste. It has just 48 grams of carbohydrates and 327 calories per serving. To up the nutrition profile of this low calorie chicken recipe even more, add in a few more of your favorite veggies.

Chicken, broccoli and cheese are the perfect accompaniment to a baked pasta recipe. But if you’re looking to switch things up a bit, try swapping out the broccoli for other veggies, such as asparagus or red peppers. For a bit of spice, sprinkle a few red pepper flakes in the dish. Or change up the type of pasta you use. Other healthy pastas on the market will work equally well in this recipe (just check the ingredients if you need to make this a gluten free recipe).

Ingredients

Recipe yields 6 servings

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Helpful How-To Video

How to Make Brown Rice Penne Chicken

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°.

  2. Step 2

    Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Add broccoli during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Drain pasta and broccoli and transfer to a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

  3. Step 3

    Lightly coat a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add garlic and chicken strips and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Transfer chicken to baking dish. Sprinkle shredded cheeses over pasta mixture.

  4. Step 4

    In a bowl, combine milk, broth, salt and pepper. Pour milk mixture over the pasta mixture and stir to distribute evenly. Bake for 30 minutes, covered with foil, until mixture is bubbly and cheese is melted.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
1 1/2 cups

327
Calories
5
g
Fat
24
mg
Cholesterol
363
mg
Sodium
48
g
Carbs
2
g
Sat. Fat
2
g
Fiber
21
g
Protein
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More Recipes Like Heart Healthy Brown Rice Penne Chicken

This recipe is low in saturated fat (2g) and sodium (363mg) but high in protein (21g), making it a great option for a heart healthy chicken meal that won’t disappoint. If you’re looking for more healthy and tasty ways to make chicken, try one of our other grilled or baked chicken recipes.

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