Whole wheat pasta with grilled chicken, cottage cheese and spinach for a quick, protein-rich meal in 35 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - Whole-wheat pasta, 4.2 oz (about 1 1/2 cups) uncooked
→ Protein
02 - Boneless, skinless chicken breast, 7 oz (about 1 medium breast)
03 - Low-fat cottage cheese, 5.3 oz (about 2/3 cup)
→ Vegetables
04 - Fresh baby spinach, 3.5 oz (about 3 1/3 cups, loosely packed)
05 - Garlic, 1 small clove, minced
06 - Cherry tomatoes, 8, halved (optional)
→ Seasonings & Others
07 - Extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp
08 - Salt, 1/2 tsp, divided
09 - Black pepper, 1/4 tsp plus additional freshly ground to taste
10 - Dried Italian herbs, 1/2 tsp
11 - Lemon juice, 1 tbsp
12 - Reserved pasta cooking water, 1/4 cup
# Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package timing. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
02 - Pat the chicken dry and season evenly with 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper and the dried Italian herbs.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook 5–6 minutes per side until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reaches 165°F. Transfer to a board and rest 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - Using the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the spinach and sauté 1–2 minutes until wilted. If using, add halved cherry tomatoes and cook 1 additional minute just to warm.
05 - Return the drained pasta to the pot or a large mixing bowl. Stir in the cottage cheese and the reserved 1/4 cup pasta water, mixing until the sauce becomes creamy and coats the strands.
06 - Fold the sautéed spinach and tomatoes into the pasta, add the remaining 1/4 tsp salt and 1 tbsp lemon juice, then toss gently to combine. Adjust seasoning with additional freshly ground black pepper to taste.
07 - Divide the creamy pasta between two bowls, top each portion with sliced grilled chicken and a light drizzle of olive oil if desired. Serve immediately.
