high protein pesto pasta with chicken
This high-protein pesto chicken pasta combines tender marinated chicken with your favorite pesto, creating a silky, restaurant-worthy recipe that's ready in under 30 minutes! Perfect for meal prep and packed with 43g of protein per serving, it's a healthy and fresh twist on your traditional pesto pasta.
Servings: 6
Calories: 569kcal
Ingredients
- 1 8oz box of frilly protein pasta like Loppdy Loops or Campanelle, use gluten free as needed
- ½ cup bone broth
- 1 egg
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded, use plant based as needed
- 1 8oz jar high protein pesto use plant based as needed
Marinaded chicken
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts or 3 chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 garlic cloves
Instructions
- Prep the chicken and pasta: Marinate the 1.5 pounds chicken breasts with the 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 garlic cloves in a bag or bowl while you cook the pasta. Cook the 1 8oz box of frilly protein pasta in heavily salted water according to package directions. Strain it and rinse well with hot water. Turn the stove off, return the pasta to the pot with a splash of bone broth, and cover it to keep it hot.
- Cook the chicken: Grill for 5-10 minutes per side. If your chicken is thick, you can slice it into thin pieces to cook faster. Alternatively, you can cook the chicken in a skillet on the stovetop. Just make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Pull it off the heat when it's 160 degrees then let it rest 5 minutes to finish cooking.
- Combine pasta with protein: In a small bowl, mix ½ cup parmesan cheese and 1 egg. Give the pasta a stir with another splash of bone broth over low heat. Once it's easy to stir and smooth, stir in the cheese-egg mixture. Stir quickly to emulsify the egg!! If the pasta isn't hot enough or you don't stir fast enough, the egg will scramble slightly, which is fine and still tasty, but it can happen. Add the 1 8oz jar high protein pesto and remaining ½ cup bone broth, stirring until smooth.
- Serve: Top with chicken and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition is calculated using Goodle's Loopy Loop pasta.
Storage: Leftovers will keep for 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. I like to keep the chicken separate from the pasta or chop up the chicken and store it with the pasta. When reheating, I recommend adding a bit more bone broth to it while reheating it slowly on the stove top.
expert tips
Save time: Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken breast to save time (I get mine from Costco or the local Coop).
Marinate overnight: Marinating your chicken overnight enhances the flavor.
Meal prep: Let the chicken rest and wait to slice your chicken just before serving to keep it from drying out.
If the eggs scramble...
This can happen if you don't stir fast enough or the pasta is too hot. It's best to avoid it because if it happens, you're stuck with it—which is fine!! It might look scrambled, but it'll still be tasty! How to avoid scrambled eggs in the first place Give the pasta a stir with another splash of bone broth over low heat before adding the egg mixture. We want it warm, bordering on hot, and easy to stir BEFORE we add the eggs. Once it's easy to stir and smooth, stir in the cheese-egg mixture. Stir quickly to emulsify the egg!!
This can happen if you don't stir fast enough or the pasta is too hot. It's best to avoid it because if it happens, you're stuck with it—which is fine!! It might look scrambled, but it'll still be tasty! How to avoid scrambled eggs in the first place Give the pasta a stir with another splash of bone broth over low heat before adding the egg mixture. We want it warm, bordering on hot, and easy to stir BEFORE we add the eggs. Once it's easy to stir and smooth, stir in the cheese-egg mixture. Stir quickly to emulsify the egg!!
Nutrition
Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 1009mg | Potassium: 670mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 167mg | Iron: 1mg