By This one-pot pasta is my take on Meghan Markle's skillet pasta from her show. I've made my own adaptations to add a bit more flavor and, of course, tons of protein! It packs 26 grams of protein into a 20-minute meal that even my toddler devoured (minus the greens - ha!).
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picking a protein pasta
This is important because not all protein pasta will work for this dish. Only ones that contain at least half wheat or semolina seem to work. Gluten-free rice pasta and chickpea pasta don't work because they're too soft and gummy. The sauce is luscious and delicious because of the pasta starches, but a single-ingredient protein pasta has no starches to release. That's why I only recommend using Barilla Protein pasta or a regular spaghetti noodle for this recipe!
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you don't need many ingredients
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Garlic & cherry tomatoes: You have to use fresh minced garlic! For tomatoes, I prefer those on the vine (sweeter) and multi-colored (prettier). But any cherry tomatoes will work.
- Pasta basics: Grab olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Chicken bone broth: This recipe works perfectly with 1 Kettle and Fire 16.9oz pack. Otherwise, you'll need about 2 cups.
- Protein Spaghetti: Be sure to see my note above about which protein pasta works. I only recommend ones that use wheat and semolina and their main starch, like Barilla Protein Pasta. A chickpea or rice one won't work.
- Lemon: You need the zest and the juice!
- Tuscan kale: I prefer Tuscan kale for this recipe because you can remove the leaves, chop the stems, and add the leaves back at the end. Any other kale bunch will work, but I wouldn't use prechopped.
- Parmesan: Freshly grated is a must here! It melts the best and adds the best flavor! Measure with your heart!
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
high protein ingredient spotlight: bone broth
Not only does this add protein (9g per serving), but it also adds tons of flavor! Bone broth is simmered for twice as long as regular broth. Use it to make marry-me sausage and beans for another easy dinner, or try it in bone broth rice for a simple side. It's one of the key ingredients that puts this dish high on our list of healthy high-protein pasta recipes!
here's how to make skillet pasta
I'm a little annoyed I had never made pasta like this before, but thankfully, you don't have to wait as long as I did! Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe.
- Saute the tomatoes, garlic, and kale stalk.
- Add the pasta, lemon zest, and bone broth. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer till the pasta is al dente.
- Stir in the kale leaves, lemon juice, and parmesan, and enjoy!
quick recipe video
learn from mika!
There's a reason I test recipes so many times - so here's my pitch for do as I say, not as I do. Ha!
- Use a large pan: I love my braisers for this, but any 12" or wider skillet will work. You can always break the pasta in half if needed.
- Use regular pasta: If you can't find the Barilla protein pasta, just use any spaghetti you like. Just not a chickpea one.
how to store it
This pasta actually gets better the next day! The only thing you have to do is reheat with some additional broth to rehydrate the pasta. But it will last for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
make it a full Sunday dinner
Pair this pasta with any of these other family favorites for a family-style dinner.
- Garlic bread, because duh!
- Lemon kale bean salad only makes sense since you already have the lemon, kale, and parmesan.
- Protein tiramisu, which is shockingly easy to make and delicious, uses no protein powder or mascarpone. You can even make it in advance and just pull it out of the freezer after dinner!
Recipe
high-protein one pot pasta
Ingredients
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 12 oz cherry tomatoes (multicolored and on the vine preferred)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 16.9 oz bone broth (1 kettle and fire box or about 2 cups)
- ½ pound protein spaghetti noodles (half a box (I use Barilla Protein; a fully gluten-free or chickpea-based pasta won't work!))
- 1 lemon
- 2 cups Tuscan kale (about 5 stalks, any bunch type of kale will work, just not prechopped)
- ½ cup parmesan (freshly shredded, measure with your heart)
Before you start!
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Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium heat with 1 teaspoon olive oil. It should be wide, at least 12" wide. I like to use a braiser! Separate the stalks from the 2 cups Tuscan kale leaves and chop the stalks small and the leaves bite-sized. Cut the 12 oz cherry tomatoes in half.
- Saute the 4 garlic cloves, tomatoes, and kale stalks in the olive oil for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Meanwhile, remove the stalks from the kale and chop them up small. Save the leaves for later.
- Add the raw ½ pound protein spaghetti noodles to the center of the pan (break it apart as needed). I like to scoot the veggies to either side of the pan, making an opening in the center for the spaghetti noodles to sit. Zest the 1 lemon over the top of everything.
- Add the 16.9 oz bone broth to the pot. It should just cover the spaghetti noodles. Spread the spaghetti noodles to as much of a single layer as possible to avoid having to add more liquid. If the noodles aren't just covered, add a little more water just so the noodles are covered.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Stir half way through just to make sure the pasta doesn't stick.
- Stir in the kale leaves, squeeze the juice from the lemon into the pot, and top with freshly shredded ½ cup parmesan. Mix everything together. You should have a silky sauce that's thickened. Continue stirring until the kale has wilted - it should only take 1-2 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.Serve with more parmesan and any protein if you want. Chicken and shrimp are our favorites!
Video
Notes
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
Absolutely love this pasta!
This was so easy and delicious
Great!
This is terrific and love how easy it is! Thank you!