Sneak in extra protein and add creamy flavor? Win win. This pasta is the perfect cozy yet healthified weeknight staple.
SERVING SIZE: 2
THE RECIPE:
Dice broccoli in to small pieces.
Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a pan over medium heat.
Add 10-12 oz ground chicken and sauté for 5-6 minutes, breaking it apart and stirring constantly to cook.
Add in 2.5 cups small broccoli and seasonings (½ tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper).
Add 1.5 cups dry penne and pour 3 ½ cups water over top. Cover the pan with its lid so the water starts to boil.
After 6 minutes, stir once, then let boil again. Stir again at the 10 minute mark. Check on the pasta at around 12 minutes once it’s done to your liking. (If there is any excess water, pat it gently with a paper towel)
While the pasta is boiling is a great time to start making the creamy pesto sauce. Add 1 cup cottage cheese, ⅓ cup pesto of choice, and ¼ cup water into a blender. Blend.
Once the pasta is done, turn the burner off and slowly pour the creamy pesto sauce directly on top in the pan and mix together.
Last, but certainly not least, top with the grated parmesan and there you have it!
Enjoy your high protein creamy pesto pasta!
High Protein Creamy Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 10-12 oz ground chicken
- 2.5 cups broccoli diced small
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 1/3 cups dry penne
- 3 cups water or broth to boil pasta
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ⅓ cup pesto of choice
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup water to blend the cottage cheese
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan
Instructions
- Dice broccoli.
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a pan over medium heat.
- Add 10-12 oz ground chicken and sauté for 5-6 minutes, breaking it apart and stirring constantly to cook.
- Add in 2.5 cups uncooked small broccoli to the pan with the chicken, and stir in the seasonings (½ tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper).
- Add 1 1/3 cups dry penne and pour 3 cups water (or broth) over top. Mix. Cover the pan with its lid so the water starts to boil.
- After 6 minutes, stir once, then let boil again. Stir again at the 10 minute mark. Check on the pasta at around 12 minutes and reduce heat to simmer. (If there is any excess water, pat it gently with a paper towel.)
- While the pasta is boiling is a great time to start making the creamy pesto sauce. Add ¾ cup cottage cheese, ⅓ cup pesto of choice, and ¼ cup water into a blender. Blend.
- Once the pasta is done, turn the burner off the heat. Slowly pour in the creamy pesto sauce directly on top in the pan and mix together.
- Last, but certainly not least, top with the grated parmesan and there you have it!
- Enjoy your high protein creamy pesto pasta!
