Craving something a little different? Goat cheese chicken pasta is creamy, tangy, and delicious. What’s more, goat cheese can be easier to digest for some people.

This Mediterranean-inspired dish has yummy nods to Greek and Italian food. Chicken adds plenty of protein and low-carb It’s Skinny helps keep it all keto-friendly.

Why Go with Goat Cheese?

Goat cheese can occasionally be a bit polarizing. It does have a distinctively tangy, earthy taste, but it’s also delicious. If you want tasty spreadable or crumbly cheese, goat cheese might become your new favorite.

Goat cheese is often called chèvre in France (chèvre means goat). With great nutritional stats, it's an excellent choice for keto and low-carb diets.

Goat cheese has been enjoyed for thousands of years—it was one of the earliest forms of cheese. The cheese originated in the Middle East, where goat herding was prevalent. Eventually, goats became popular in the Mediterranean region, especially among the Greeks and Romans. In France, goat cheese became quite prominent (hence the moniker "chèvre” which is used worldwide.

Goat cheese has become popular in the United States and throughout the globe over the last century. Its unique flavors and easy-to-digest properties make it a favorite amongst gourmet and health-conscious foodies.

Chèvre is available in crumbly and creamy varieties. It’s delicious in salads and pairs perfectly with fruit and nuts. It’s also an especially nice addition to pasta, where the creaminess makes a satisfying sauce.

The cheese is rich in nutrients—especially calcium, vitamin A, and probiotics. It’s also keto-friendly, with less than 1 gram of carbohydrates per ounce. Goat cheese is high in healthy fats (again, great for keto dieters).

Some folks who struggle with lactose have an easier time digesting goat cheese compared to cow’s milk cheese. The smaller fat molecules and lower levels of lactose are better tolerated by the digestive system.

We made this chicken and goat cheese pasta keto-friendly with It's Skinny Shirataki noodles. The chicken gives you excellent lean protein to build muscles and maintain your weight. The goat cheese makes the dish extra rich, creamy, and satisfying.

About It’s Skinny Pasta

Chicken and goat cheese pasta is a great option for anyone on a low-carb or keto diet. Now, you may be thinking, "Pasta? That's not keto-friendly." Au contraire! With It's Skinny Pasta, you can have your noodles without the guilt.

It’s Skinny shirataki noodles are made from Konjac root. Konjac is a special ingredient that fills you up without leaving you feeling sluggish. These noodles have only 9 calories per pack and ZERO net carbs.

Surely, there must be a catch right? Nope! You get delicious pasta in all your favorite shapes:

·       Spaghetti

·       Fettuccine

·       Angel Hair

·       Pappardelle

·       Couscous

·       Orzo

·       Noodles for Soup

…with none of the carbs, guilt, or drawbacks. The texture of It’s Skinny Pasta is spot-on al dente, just like your favorite noodles. With so many shapes, you can customize recipes to suit your preference, whether you like a wide noodle like Pappardelle or prefer delicate Angel Hair.

For this recipe, we used Spaghetti—a classic shape—but it would also be very good with Fettuccine (a spin on chicken fettuccine alfredo) or any other shape you like.

With It’s Skinny you open up a world of pastabilities to make your favorite meals over with a low-carb twist. If you need ideas, don’t miss our recipe database. We have plenty of low-carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free options for your next meal.

It's Skinny pairs well with any diet or lifestyle—it's gluten-free, plant-based, and low-calorie. So, no matter how you like to eat, It’s Skinny will work for you!

Customizing Chicken and Goat Cheese Pasta

If you haven’t tried goat cheese much before, you may not realize how well it pairs with plenty of other ingredients. You can customize this recipe to make your perfect creamy bowl of protein pasta.

Need some ideas? Here are a few ways to level up this recipe.

What vegetables go with goat cheese?

Goat cheese pairs well with an array of Mediterranean veggies. If you’re not quite sure, think of the vegetables you’d add to a creamy sauce. Mushrooms, baby kale, red peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes are all great choices.

The tangy flavor of goat cheese also goes well with herbs like chives, onions, garlic, and Italian or Greek blends. Lemon pepper pairs well with the flavors, too. Get experimental and have fun with the options.

Can I use leftover chicken? Other protein?

Grilled or pan-seared chicken goes great in this dish, but you could also use shredded rotisserie chicken or anything similar. Chicken is a great lean protein, but if you’re not feeling it, you could also try shrimp. Crumbled bacon goes well in this dish and adds a delicious smokey flavor.

If you like, omit the chicken and take this dish for a vegetarian spin. Grilled vegetables like eggplant, summer squash, and zucchini are all great choices. Mushrooms add meaty chewiness. One word of caution, though—if you add other vegetables, be sure to check the stats. Some veggies are higher in starch and might take you out of your keto target range.

Can I swap anything for the goat cheese?

While this recipe is built around goat cheese as a main component, there may be a situation where you can’t find goat cheese at the store, or perhaps goat cheese isn't your favorite.

You can switch out the goat cheese in this recipe for a soft herbed cheese or even cream cheese. Feta is another possible option. Cottage cheese or ricotta will also work in place of the goat cheese.

How to Make Keto Chicken Goat Cheese Pasta

If you’re ready to pull together this delicious and deceptively simple dish, follow the instructions below. With just a few ingredients, you can have a restaurant-stature meal in just minutes.

This dish is perfect for the times you want to try something a little new and different but satisfying and yummy!

Ingredients:

·       1 pack It’s Skinny Spaghetti

·       2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

·       2 tbsp olive oil

·       ½ tsp salt

·       ¼ tsp black pepper

·       2 cloves garlic, minced

·       1 tbsp butter

·       ½ cup heavy cream

·       3 oz goat cheese (soft, crumbled)

·       ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

·       ½ tsp Italian seasoning

·       ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

·       1 cup baby spinach (optional)

·       ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

·       2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Instructions:

Step 1: Open the pack of It’s Skinny Spaghetti, drain, rinse, and set aside.

Step 2: Season the chicken with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper. In a large skillet, sauté on medium-high heat for 5 minutes per side (until chicken is golden brown and cooked to 165°F internal temp). Slice the chicken into strips and set the chicken aside.

Step 3: In the same skillet, sauté the garlic for 30 seconds in 1 tbsp butter. Add the heavy cream, stirring until the cream is warm (not boiling). Add the goat cheese and Parmesan, stirring until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Add the red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and baby spinach, stirring until the spinach begins to wilt. Add the It's Skinny Spaghetti and stir well to coat in the sauce. Allow the pasta to heat through for approximately 3 minutes.

Step 5: Plate up the pasta, topping with the sliced chicken and cherry tomatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan. Dig in and enjoy!