Skip to content
Healti
High protein

High protein chicken pasta with parmesan and basil

Creamy without being heavy: chicken, pasta, parmesan and fresh basil, with the protein high enough to carry a whole evening.

  • Servings: 2
  • Total: 25 min
  • 580 kcal · 48 g protein
High protein chicken pasta

This is the kind of weeknight pasta that fits a calorie target without feeling like a compromise. Chicken breast and quark do most of the work, so you get a genuinely filling plate at 580 kcal with 48 g of protein per serving.

Everything happens in the time the pasta takes to boil, which makes it a realistic option after training rather than a weekend project.

Ingredients

Servings: 2

  • 160 g dried pasta (penne or fusilli)
  • 300 g chicken breast, cut into strips
  • 150 g plain quark or skyr (2–3% fat)
  • 30 g parmesan, finely grated
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 150 g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 handful fresh basil leaves
  • Salt and black pepper

Instructions

  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Save about 100 ml of the cooking water before draining.

  2. 2

    While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a wide pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and fry for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through.

  3. 3

    Lower the heat, add the garlic and cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes until the tomatoes start to soften.

  4. 4

    Take the pan off the heat for a moment and stir in the quark and parmesan with a splash of the pasta water. Off the heat the quark stays creamy instead of splitting.

  5. 5

    Add the drained pasta, toss until every piece is coated, and loosen with more pasta water if needed.

  6. 6

    Tear in the basil, taste, and adjust salt and pepper before serving.

Good to know

  • Swap the quark for cottage cheese blended smooth if you prefer a milder flavour.
  • For more volume at the same calories, add 200 g of spinach with the tomatoes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this ahead?
Yes. It keeps in the fridge for up to two days. Reheat gently with a splash of water so the sauce loosens again.
How do I log this in Healti?
Search for the ingredients you used and log them by weight, or save the finished dish as your own recipe so one tap covers the whole plate next time.

Calculate it yourself

  • Protein Calculator

    See a sensible daily protein range for your body weight and what you are training for — in grams per day and grams per kilo.

    Protein Calculator

  • Calorie Calculator

    Estimate how many calories your body uses on a normal day, and what that means if you want to keep, lose or gain weight.

    Calorie Calculator

Prefer to track it in the app?

Everything on this page is free to read. The Healti app is there if you want your meals, workouts and progress kept in one place.

Keep reading