Chicken Pesto Cottage Cheese Pasta
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Diet: High-Protein, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) Pasta of choice (penne, rotini, or fusilli work best)
- 1 lb (450g) Boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup Low-fat or full-fat cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup Prepared basil pesto
- 2 cups Fresh baby spinach
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1/4 cup Reserved pasta water
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: Red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, carefully scoop out about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta and keep it warm.
- Step 2: Prepare the Creamy Pesto Sauce: While the pasta is cooking, place the cottage cheese and the basil pesto into a blender or food processor. Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and no lumps remain. This step is crucial for achieving that “Alfredo-like” texture.
- Step 3: Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is golden brown and cooked through. Add the minced garlic during the last minute of cooking so it becomes fragrant without burning.
- Step 4: Wilt the Spinach: Lower the heat to medium. Add the fresh baby spinach to the skillet with the chicken. Stir for about 1 minute until the spinach has just begun to wilt from the residual heat.
- Step 5: Combine and Emulsify: Turn the heat to low. Add the cooked pasta and the blended pesto cottage cheese sauce to the skillet. Toss everything together to coat. If the sauce seems too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water to thin it out to your desired consistency. Warm through for 1-2 minutes, but do not let it boil, as the cottage cheese can grain up if overheated.