
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a classic comfort food, but it can be a nightmare for those watching their weight. The creamy sauce, usually made with butter, heavy cream, and cheese, can make the dish very high in fat and calories. However, there are ways to lighten the recipe without sacrificing taste and texture. Weight Watchers offers tips and tricks to make this indulgent dish more diet-friendly, such as substituting almond milk for heavy cream and using wholewheat pasta. So, how many Weight Watchers points are in a serving of Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo?
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Weight Watchers Points
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Points per portion (Blue & old Freestyle plan) | 7 |
Points per portion Green plan | 8 |
Points per portion Purple plan, wholewheat pasta | 4 |
Points per portion Purple plan, white pasta | 20 |
Points per portion without shrimp and mushrooms | 7 |
Points per portion with low-fat ingredients | 4 |
Points per portion without cream cheese and parmesan cheese | 7-8 |
Points per portion with chicken breast | 7-8 |
What You'll Learn
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is 7 Smart Points per portion on Weight Watchers Blue (and the old Freestyle plan)
- It's 8 SmartPoints on the Green plan
- It's 4 SmartPoints on the Purple plan
- This is because the recipe uses wholewheat pasta and zucchini noodles
- You can also add shrimp and mushrooms, but this increases the points
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is 7 Smart Points per portion on Weight Watchers Blue (and the old Freestyle plan)
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a delicious and creamy dish, and it can be made more Weight Watchers-friendly without compromising on taste. The recipe typically involves cooking chicken seasoned with salt and pepper, and combined with a sauce made from heavy cream, broth, and yogurt, which is then mixed with cooked pasta and parsley.
There are ways to make this dish even lighter and reduce the points further. For example, you can use wholewheat pasta, which is zero SmartPoints on the Purple plan, or zucchini noodles, which are also zero points. You can also swap out the heavy cream for skimmed milk, chicken stock, or almond milk, and reduce the amount of Parmesan cheese or use a lower-fat variety.
The recipe for Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo on the Weight Watchers website has been adapted to be lighter, but still retains the signature creamy taste and texture of the classic dish. This version uses a combination of heavy cream and full-fat Greek yogurt for the sauce, and the chicken is patted dry and seasoned with salt and pepper before cooking to develop flavour.
So, if you're following the Weight Watchers Blue or Freestyle plan, you can enjoy a portion of Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo for 7 Smart Points.
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It's 8 SmartPoints on the Green plan
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a delicious dish, but it can be a nutrition nightmare. A traditional recipe for Chicken Alfredo can amount to 20 Points per portion. However, Weight Watchers has a lighter version that doesn't compromise on the signature creamy taste and texture. This recipe is just 8 SmartPoints on the Green plan.
The Weight Watchers recipe uses half the amount of pasta and bulks it out with zucchini noodles, which are zero Points. This means you still get a big bowl of noodles for your Points. The recipe also substitutes heavy whipping cream with a mixture of chicken stock, skimmed milk, and light cream cheese. This creates a thick and creamy sauce when reduced.
To make this recipe, you'll need to chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season them with salt and pepper. Heat some olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, add the chicken, and cook until all sides are sealed and turned white. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside. Next, add some garlic to the pan and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add the chicken pieces back to the pan, along with milk and stock, and bring to a simmer.
Break the fettuccine in half and add it to the pan. Stir for a few minutes, then gently simmer for 6-7 minutes until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has reduced. Turn down the heat and stir in the cream cheese and zucchini noodles. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, ensuring all the noodles are covered in sauce. Divide the dish between two bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
This recipe is a great option for those following any of the WW plans, as it's tasty, filling, and low in Points.
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It's 4 SmartPoints on the Purple plan
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a creamy, tasty and filling dish that can be made more Weight Watchers-friendly by implementing a few changes to the traditional recipe.
The WW Purple plan, for example, assigns zero SmartPoints to wholewheat pasta. So, substituting white pasta with wholewheat pasta can significantly reduce the SmartPoints of the dish. In fact, by making this substitution, you can enjoy a serving of Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo for only 4 SmartPoints per portion on the Purple plan.
Another way to reduce the SmartPoints is to bulk up the dish with zucchini noodles. These noodles are also zero SmartPoints, so you can eat a larger volume of food without increasing the SmartPoints value.
Additionally, you can swap heavy whipping cream with a mixture of chicken stock, skimmed milk, and light cream cheese. This substitution not only reduces the SmartPoints but also creates a delicious, thick, and creamy sauce.
By implementing these changes, you can enjoy a tasty and satisfying dish that aligns with your Weight Watchers Purple plan, allowing you to indulge in a comforting meal without compromising your points budget.
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This is because the recipe uses wholewheat pasta and zucchini noodles
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a popular recipe for those on Weight Watchers, as it is a lighter version of the classic dish that still retains its signature creamy taste and texture. The recipe typically involves cooking chicken with garlic, broth, heavy cream, and yogurt, and serving it with fettuccine pasta.
The number of Weight Watchers points in a serving of Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo can vary depending on the specific ingredients and quantities used. However, there are some strategies to reduce the points value while maintaining the dish's flavour and appeal. One way to do this is by substituting wholewheat pasta for white pasta. Wholewheat pasta is a healthier alternative that can help lower the SmartPoints value of the dish. On the WW Purple plan, wholewheat pasta is zero SmartPoints, so using it instead of white pasta can significantly reduce the overall points of the recipe.
Another way to reduce the points while keeping the dish satisfying is by adding zucchini noodles, also known as "zoodles". Zucchini noodles are a zero-point food that can bulk up the dish without adding extra points. They provide a similar texture and mouthfeel as regular pasta, ensuring that the dish still feels indulgent and satisfying. By adding zucchini noodles, you can reduce the overall amount of pasta in the recipe, which can help lower the points value.
Combining these two strategies, using wholewheat pasta and bulking up the dish with zucchini noodles, can significantly reduce the Weight Watchers points of a Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo recipe. This allows individuals on Weight Watchers to enjoy a tasty, creamy pasta dish while still adhering to their points budget. The recipe becomes more accessible and less of a "nutrition nightmare", as one user described it.
In addition to these substitutions, there are other ways to make the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo recipe even lighter and healthier. Some people choose to skip the butter and use olive oil instead, reducing the amount of fat in the dish. Others opt for reduced-fat Parmesan cheese or use almond milk instead of heavy cream to create a lighter, yet still tasty, sauce. These small adjustments can make the recipe more Weight Watchers-friendly without sacrificing flavour.
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You can also add shrimp and mushrooms, but this increases the points
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a creamy pasta dish that can be made more nutritious and filling by adding shrimp and mushrooms. However, it's important to note that this will increase the Weight Watchers points value of the meal.
The classic Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo recipe includes heavy cream, full-fat Greek yogurt, and Parmesan cheese, which contribute to its high POINTS values. By substituting these ingredients with lower-point alternatives, such as skimmed milk, light cream cheese, and reduced-fat Parmesan, the overall POINTS values can be reduced.
The Weight Watchers Purple plan suggests using wholewheat pasta, which has zero SmartPoints, instead of white pasta. This simple swap can reduce the POINTS values by half. Additionally, bulking up the dish with zucchini noodles, which are also zero Points, ensures a satisfying portion size without adding extra points.
While adding shrimp and mushrooms enhances the flavour and nutritional value of the dish, it does increase the POINTS values. Shrimp, in particular, can significantly impact the overall points calculation. However, for those who enjoy shrimp, the addition may be well worth the extra points.
When preparing Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, it's essential to cook the pasta according to the package instructions and toss it with the sauce to ensure even coating. The chicken should be seasoned generously with salt and pepper and cooked until golden. By following these simple tips, you can create a delicious and satisfying meal while being mindful of the Weight Watchers POINTS values.
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Frequently asked questions
This depends on the Weight Watchers plan you are on. If you are on the Blue or old Freestyle plan, it is 7 Smart Points per portion. On the Green plan, it is 8 SmartPoints per portion. On the Purple plan, it is 4 SmartPoints per portion.
There are several ways to make chicken fettuccine Alfredo with fewer Weight Watchers points. You can swap white pasta for wholewheat pasta, use almond milk instead of heavy cream, use chicken broth to thin out the sauce, and add zucchini noodles.
The serving size for chicken fettuccine Alfredo is about 3 ounces of chicken and 2/3 cup of pasta/sauce.
To make chicken fettuccine Alfredo, you will need the following ingredients: chicken, garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, chicken stock, skimmed milk, light cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and fettuccine. First, chop the chicken into bite-size pieces and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the chicken and cook until sealed. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Add garlic to the skillet and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add the chicken pieces back to the pan along with milk and stock, and bring to a simmer. Add the pasta and stir for a few minutes until the pasta is softened and the sauce has reduced. Stir in the cream cheese and zucchini noodles and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Divide the dish between two bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.