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Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Bake

Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Bake With 35g Protein

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A creamy, high-protein pasta bake with chicken, tomato basil sauce, and a smooth cottage cheese blend, topped with melted mozzarella.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 5 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz high-protein pasta (chickpea, lentil, or Banza penne/rotini)
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
  • 1.5 cups full-fat (4%) cottage cheese, blended completely smooth
  • 1 cup thick marinara or tomato basil sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Boil pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than package directions (al dente); drain thoroughly.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together smooth cottage cheese, thick marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until creamy.
  3. Fold in drained pasta, shredded chicken breast, half of the mozzarella, and chopped fresh basil.
  4. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling.

Notes

  • Under-cooking your high-protein pasta by 2 minutes before baking is key. The pasta absorbs moisture from the sauce while baking, giving you a thick, rich casserole instead of a watery sauce.
  • Author: Emily Frost
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Halal

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving (1/5 of dish)
  • Calories: 365
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 522mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 29g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 35g
  • Cholesterol: 54mg