Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Enjoy a quick, creamy, and delectable pasta dish that blends the richness of cottage cheese with the vibrant taste of pesto, combined with tender grilled chicken and sautéed spinach. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!

By @sara.haven

Original recipe source

Cook time: 10 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked pasta
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 splash milk
• 3 tbsp pesto
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cups fresh spinach
• 4 oz grilled chicken
• 4 cups cooked pasta
• 0.75 cup mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
2. Add your favorite pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, following package instructions.
3. Using a blender, blend 1 cup of 4% cottage cheese until smooth. Add a splash of milk if needed to loosen the mixture.
4. Stir 3 tablespoons of fresh pesto into the blended cottage cheese until well combined.
5. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil until shimmering.
6. Add 4 cups of fresh spinach to the skillet and sauté until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
7. Add 4 oz of grilled chicken, sliced into strips, to the skillet and warm through.
8. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and pour the cottage cheese and pesto sauce over the top.
9. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese onto the pasta mixture.
10. Gently stir the pasta mixture over low heat until cheese is fully melted and all ingredients are integrated, about 3-5 minutes.
11. Serve the creamy pesto chicken pasta hot, garnished with freshly ground black pepper or extra pesto if desired.