Cheesy Chicken Veggie Pasta
🥦🥕🧀 EASY and ready in minutes! The cheesy pasta is COMFORT food while all the veggies add a HEALTHIER twist! Family-friendly and perfect for busy weeknights!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 423cal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta ziti, rigatoni, rotini, wheels, small shells, etc. may be substituted
- one 12-ounce package broccoli and cauliflower florets or all broccoli or all cauliflower
- 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 ½ cups shredded carrots loosely measured
- 4 to 5 green onions thinly sliced (about 1/3 to 1/2 cup)
- 3 to 5 cloved garlic finely minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- 1 ½ to 2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves loosely measured
- 1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package directions in salted water in a very large skillet or pot. In the final 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli and cauliflower florets. Drain but reserve 1/2 cup pasta water in case you need it in step 6.
- Return the pasta and vegetables to the cooking pot; set aside.
- To a large skillet, add the olive oil, chicken, and cook for about 3 minutes.
- Add the carrots, onions, salt, pepper, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables have softened; stir and flip intermittently to ensure even cooking.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir nearly constantly.
- Add the chicken and carrot mixture to the large pot with the cooked pasta, broccoli, and cauliflower.
- Add the spinach, cheeses, and stir until cheese has all melted and spinach has wilted. Taste and check for seasoning balance and if necessary, add additional salt and/or pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 423cal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 781mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g
