Delight your senses and stay on track with your health goals with our Healthy & Easy Chicken Pasta recipe. This versatile recipe can be made using one pot on the stove, an Instant Pot, or a slow cooker. Infused with flavors from sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning, and packed with protein from chicken and whole wheat pasta, this dish is not only delicious but also nutritious.
Every family has that one recipe that pleases everyone, and in our household, it’s this Healthy & Easy Chicken Pasta. One busy evening, I decided to experiment with some healthy ingredients. The result? A delectable pasta dish that was a hit with everyone, even my picky eaters! Whether it’s a weekday dinner or a weekend feast, this recipe has become our go-to comfort food.
Healthy and Easy Chicken Pasta served in a bowl
Why This Healthy & Easy Chicken Pasta is Your Next Go-To Recipe ?
- Versatility: Make it on the stove, in an Instant Pot, or in a slow cooker.
- Health-conscious: Uses whole wheat pasta, lean chicken breast, and low-sodium chicken broth.
- Rich in protein: Packed with Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.
- Full of flavor: Infused with Italian herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic.
- Customizable: Feel free to add your favorite vegetables.
Ingredients:
- 50g sun-dried tomatoes (if using grape tomatoes, use about a handful)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 900g chicken breast, diced into 1-inch cubes
- 340g whole wheat pasta
- 710ml low sodium chicken broth (236ml for crockpot and stovetop)
- 60g baby spinach
- A handful of fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 175g fat-free plain Greek yogurt
- 175g fat-free cottage cheese
- 150g parmesan, grated
How to Cook Healthy & Easy Chicken Pasta in Various Methods ?
For Instant Pot:
Start by setting your Instant Pot to sauté. Lightly spray the pot with cooking spray, then add the tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Stir until fragrant.
Add the diced chicken and brown on all sides for about 3-5 minutes.
Add the whole wheat pasta and chicken broth to the pot. Ensure all pasta is submerged in the broth.
Secure the lid and set the pressure valve to sealing. Select Pressure Cook (high) and set the cook time for 3 minutes.
While the pasta is cooking, blend together the Greek yogurt and cottage cheese until smooth.
After the cooking time, release the pressure and remove the lid. Drain any excess liquid if necessary.
Stir in the spinach and fresh basil until wilted. Let the pasta cool for a minute or two to prevent the dairy from curdling.
Finally, stir in the parmesan cheese and the blended Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. Serve immediately.
For Crock Pot:
Lightly spray a skillet with cooking oil, then add the tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, and pepper. Sauté over high heat until fragrant.
Add the cubed chicken to the skillet and brown until no longer sticking together.
Transfer the contents of the skillet to your crockpot, adding in the chicken broth.
Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
In the last 30 minutes, add your pasta, ensuring it’s covered with liquid.
Once the cooking time is over, stir in the spinach and basil until wilted. Drain excess liquid if necessary.
Blend the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt until smooth, then stir into the pot along with the parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, topped with fresh basil.
For Stovetop:
Lightly spray a large pot or skillet with cooking oil, then add the tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, and pepper. Sauté over high heat until fragrant.
Add the chicken to the pot, browning until no longer sticking together.
Add your pasta and chicken broth, stirring until pasta is submerged.
Once the broth begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the pasta is cooked, add the spinach and basil, stirring until the spinach is wilted. Drain excess liquid if necessary.
Blend the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt until smooth, then stir into the pan with the parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, topped with fresh basil.
Notes:
- You can replace the sun-dried tomatoes with fresh grape tomatoes if you prefer.
- Feel free to add other vegetables such as bell peppers or zucchini for added nutrition and flavor.
- This Chicken Pasta is a complete meal in itself but can also be served with a side of garlic bread or a fresh salad.
Whether you’re in a rush, wanting to use your Instant Pot, or fancy slow cooking, this Healthy & Easy recipe is the perfect dish. Packed with protein and full of flavor, it’s sure to become a favorite in your household. Enjoy the process of creating this delightful meal and even more, enjoy every bite of it!
The process of making Healthy & Easy Chicken Pasta
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use a different type of pasta?
Yes, you can use any pasta of your choice. Just remember to adjust the cooking time according to the pasta’s instructions.
Can I substitute the chicken with other proteins?
Absolutely! This Healthy & Easy Chicken Pasta recipe can be easily modified to suit your dietary needs. You can substitute chicken with turkey, tofu, or even chickpeas.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Definitely! To make this recipe vegetarian, simply omit the chicken and add your favorite veggies or plant-based protein.
Healthy & Easy Chicken Pasta recipe
Ingredients
- 50 g sun-dried tomatoes if using grape tomatoes, use about a handful
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 900 g chicken breast diced into 1-inch cubes
- 340 g whole wheat pasta
- 710 ml low sodium chicken broth 236ml for crockpot and stovetop
- 60 g baby spinach
- A handful of fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
- 175 g fat-free plain Greek yogurt
- 175 g fat-free cottage cheese
- 150 g parmesan grated
Instructions
For Instant Pot:
- Start by setting your Instant Pot to sauté. Lightly spray the pot with cooking spray, then add the tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Stir until fragrant.
- Add the diced chicken and brown on all sides for about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the whole wheat pasta and chicken broth to the pot. Ensure all pasta is submerged in the broth.
- Secure the lid and set the pressure valve to sealing. Select Pressure Cook (high) and set the cook time for 3 minutes.
- While the pasta is cooking, blend together the Greek yogurt and cottage cheese until smooth.
- After the cooking time, release the pressure and remove the lid. Drain any excess liquid if necessary.
- Stir in the spinach and fresh basil until wilted. Let the pasta cool for a minute or two to prevent the dairy from curdling.
- Finally, stir in the parmesan cheese and the blended Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. Serve immediately.
For Crock Pot:
- Lightly spray a skillet with cooking oil, then add the tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, and pepper. Sauté over high heat until fragrant.
- Add the cubed chicken to the skillet and brown until no longer sticking together.
- Transfer the contents of the skillet to your crockpot, adding in the chicken broth.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
- In the last 30 minutes, add your pasta, ensuring it's covered with liquid.
- Once the cooking time is over, stir in the spinach and basil until wilted. Drain excess liquid if necessary.
- Blend the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt until smooth, then stir into the pot along with the parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, topped with fresh basil.
For Stovetop:
- Lightly spray a large pot or skillet with cooking oil, then add the tomatoes, garlic, Italian herbs, and pepper. Sauté over high heat until fragrant.
- Add the chicken to the pot, browning until no longer sticking together.
- Add your pasta and chicken broth, stirring until pasta is submerged.
- Once the broth begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the pasta is cooked, add the spinach and basil, stirring until the spinach is wilted. Drain excess liquid if necessary.
- Blend the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt until smooth, then stir into the pan with the parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, topped with fresh basil.
Notes
Feel free to add other vegetables such as bell peppers or zucchini for added nutrition and flavor.
This Chicken Pasta is a complete meal in itself but can also be served with a side of garlic bread or a fresh salad.
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