Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli
Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli packs 39g protein and 583 calories per serving, combining complete carbs and protein in a single dish. Quick stovetop execution produces 4 servings, cutting meal prep sessions from hours to minutes. Use it as a post-workout staple that covers protein and carb requirements simultaneously.
Ingredients
- •Pasta, Farfalle (Bow Tie), White, Dry(227g)
- •Broccoli(227g)
- •Olive oil(15g)
Regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for high-heat cooking. EVOO for dressings.
- •Chicken Breast, Boneless Skinless(454g)
Boneless skinless. Buy in bulk and freeze — Costco rotisserie packs work too.
- •Basil Pesto, Prepared(80g)
- •Low Sodium Chicken Broth(120g)
- •Cream Cheese(113g)
Standard block cream cheese. Neufchatel (1/3 less fat) is a good swap.
Instructions
- 1Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta. Once it reaches a full boil, add the pasta and continue to boil just until the pasta is tender, but still slightly firm in the center (7-8 minutes). Once the pasta is tender, add the frozen broccoli florets to the water with the pasta and continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes, or until the broccoli is tender. Drain the pasta and broccoli in a colander.
- 2While the pasta is cooking, cut the chicken breast into ½-inch pieces. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and continue to cook until the outside of the chicken pieces are white, but they're still tender in the center (they will continue to cook as more ingredients are added).
- 3Add the chicken broth to the skillet with the chicken and allow it to heat through. Once hot, add the cream cheese (cut into small pieces) and pesto. Continue to stir and cook until the cream cheese has melted and created a smooth, creamy sauce with the pesto and chicken broth.
- 4Finally, add the cooked and drained pasta and broccoli to the skillet and stir to coat it in the cream sauce. If the sauce becomes too dry or thick, add another splash of chicken broth to loosen it up. Serve hot.
Nutrition — Per Serving
583
calories
39g
protein
25g
fat
- Carbohydrates
- 50g
- Saturated fat
- 8.5g
- Sodium
- 322 mg
- Dietary fiber
- 3.6g
4 servings per batch · ~309g each
Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central
AI Swap Engine
Set up your profile to enable swaps →Common questions
How much protein does Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli have per serving?
Each serving contains 39g of protein and 583 calories, with 25g fat and 50g carbs. This is a balanced macro profile that supports post-workout recovery with solid protein and carbohydrate content.
How long does Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli take to make?
This is marked as quick prep and makes 4 servings on the stovetop in one batch. You'll have multiple complete dinners with protein, vegetables, and carbs ready for the week.
Is Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli good for muscle gain?
At 39g protein and 50g carbs per serving (583 total calories), this recipe is well-suited for a muscle-building phase where you need both protein for synthesis and carbs for training performance. The 4-serving batch fits cleanly into a week of post-workout meals.
More like this
Slow Cooker Beef Pasta
Slow Cooker · 10 servings
