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With its Greek yogurt pesto sauce, this high protein pesto pasta with chicken is perfect for a healthy and satisfying meal. If you love pesto, make this protein pasta recipe. You won’t regret it!
I love pesto pasta. Who doesn’t love pesto? Even better if it is a high protein pesto pasta!
Growing up in Italy, pasta al pesto had been one of my childhood favorites. As I am writing this blog post (in Germany), I can still taste the flavors of homemade orecchiette al pesto that my grandma used to make.
Last night I was in the mood for something tasty, yet still healthy and high protein. So I grabbed all ingredients and made this high protein pesto pasta with chicken.
Table of Contents
Lower calorie pesto sauce
This protein pesto pasta is a lower calorie alternative to the traditional recipe.
To reduce the calories in this dish, my recipe has a hack. Pesto is mixed with Greek yogurt and pasta water to make a creamy sauce. Besides cutting some calories, Greek yogurt also adds some extra protein (and creaminess) to your meal.
This pesto pasta with chicken is balanced and packed with protein. The perfect macro friendly pesto pasta recipe!
Ingredients
And if high protein macro-friendly pesto pasta isn’t enough already, keep on reading. You will fall in love with this pasta. This protein pasta recipe is so easy that requires just six simple ingredients!
Here’s all you need to make this creamy pesto pasta with chicken.
- Wholewheat pasta
- Pesto
- 2% Greek yogurt
- Chicken breast
- Cherry tomatoes
- Salt
On the top of that, you can season your pasta with pepper or any spice you like. And why not… Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on the top of your pasta. Just like Italians do!
Plant based pesto pasta recipe
This protein pesto pasta is also great if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Here are three simple swaps that will get you a plant based pasta al pesto!
- Replace chicken with your favorite plant based protein source. For this recipe, I recommend tofu, tempeh or seitan. These are the foods that have plenty of protein and few carbs.
- If you are vegan, make this recipe with vegan pesto. You can make your own pesto with cashews or purchase it from the store.
- No dairy, no problem! Replace Greek yogurt with your favorite plant based alternative. My top picks are soy Skyr, soy yogurt or cashew yogurt.
How to make high protein pesto pasta
This pesto pasta with chicken is so easy to make that comes together in under 15 minutes. Here’s how to make it!
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions.
- Grill, bake, air fry or cook chicken breast. After chicken is cooked, cut into stripes or cubes and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, combine in a medium size bowl pesto and Greek yogurt. Stir the ingredients – adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of pasta water if required – until you get a creamy consistency.
- Add cooked chicken and chopped tomatoes to the Greek yogurt pesto cream.
- When pasta is cooked, drain and add to the protein pesto cream. Give it a good stir until all ingredients are well combined. Adjust with salt and pepper to taste and serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, if you desire.
Buon appetito!
Tips for making the best protein pesto pasta
Here are some simple tips that will level up your macro-friendly pesto pasta.
- Make your pesto cream with 2% Greek yogurt. It just a couple of calories more but come with more taste and richness than 0% Greek yogurt.
- If you like garlic, don’t think twice! Season your pasta with as much garlic powder as you want.
- If you have some fresh basil, make your own pesto at home. It is a cheaper and healthier version to store-bought pesto. And it tastes better too!
- Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese over your pasta. Just like Italians do!
More protein pasta recipes
High Protein Pesto Pasta with Chicken
Ingredients
- 70 grams (3 oz.) wholewheat pasta
- 25 grams (2 tbsp) pesto
- 30 grams (2 tbsp) 2% Greek yogurt
- salt (and pepper, to taste)
- 150 grams (5 oz.) boneless chicken breast
- 120 grams (4 oz.) cherry tomatoes (chopped)
Optional, To Serve
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions.
- Grill, bake, air fry or cook chicken breast. After chicken is cooked, cut into stripes or cubes and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, combine in a medium size bowl pesto and Greek yogurt. Stir the ingredients – adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of pasta water if required – until you get a creamy consistency.
- Add cooked chicken and chopped tomatoes to the Greek yogurt pesto cream.
- When pasta is cooked, drain and add to the protein pesto cream. Give it a good stir until all ingredients are well combined. Adjust with salt and pepper to taste and serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, if you desire.
