Easy high protein pasta {20-minute meal}

I’m all preparing a week of healthy, high-protein meals, and this pasta dish is always on my list. It’s easy to make using store-bought ingredients, so there’s almost no preparation and it’s a great clean meal!

Cheese, chicken sausage and protein pasta fuel the protein while keeping the overall calories lower than traditional pasta dishes. All that’s left is your favorite Marinara sauce, pesto sauce and spinach. Add a little Parmesan cheese and basil for added flavor.

More chicken sausage recipes you might like: chicken sausage pasta, broccoli, lemon orzo and broccoli and chicken sausage, as well as grilled chicken sausage and vegetables!

Before you begin

Here is something you need to grab or prepare in advance before making this dish:

• Prepare your pasta in advance: Boiling the pasta in advance and keeping it in the refrigerator for 1-2 days will reduce preparation time.
• Change the taste of chicken sausage: You can use any savory chicken sausage for this recipe. Caprese, spinach and cheese, garlic and onion or Italian chicken sausage are delicious! Turkish sausages are also effective.
• Select your cheese: Low-fat or regular cheese will be used in this recipe.
• Add more vegetables: If you don’t have spinach or want to use up those leftover veggies in the refrigerator, go for it!

mix

Want to exchange one or more ingredients for other ingredients? Here are some simple ideas:

• Vegetarian diet enhancement: Add sautéed mushrooms, pepper or zucchini, and spinach to increase vegetarian content.
• Spicy kick: Add red pepper flakes or a little hot sauce to make the sauce a little hot.
• Cheese changes: Mix chopped mozzarella or sprinkle grated parmesan for tackyness.
• Herbal Twisted: Add fresh basil, oregano or thyme to the sauce for a more fragrant dish.
• Extra sauce: Double the marinara and creamy base to make the sauce pasta perfect for absorbing every bite.

How to Make This High Protein Pasta Recipe

Here’s how to review this recipe step by step:

1. Cook pasta

Cook the pasta until Al Dente, but cooked. If using chickpea pasta or lentil pasta, watch the time carefully to avoid the paste.

2. Brown sausage

Cook your sausages sliced in a hot pan until they turn brown and crispy outside. If the sausage is raw, cook for longer until it is fully finished.

choose: If you prefer less oil, you can also bake or bake the sausages.

3. Spinach withered

Add spinach to the pan with sausage and stir until tender. It only takes a minute or two. If you want to add more vegetables, cook until tender.

Expert tips: Fresh spinach cooks quickly, so don’t leave it unattended or it will turn mushy.

4. Combined with sauce and cream

Mix the marinade sauce with a creamy base such as cream cheese and pesto and add it to the pan. Let it warm up and mix together.

Smooth sauce: If you don’t like the chunky cheese, use a blender to mix the marinade and cheese together.

5. Throw everything together

Add the cooked pasta to the pan and stir until the sauce covers everything evenly. Serve with optional toppings such as cheese or fresh herbs.

One-pot cooking method

You can simplify cooking by using a pot for sausage, spinach and sauce, then stir the cooked pasta at the end. For one oven method, brown the sausage and wilted spinach on the stovetop, mix everything with sauce and pasta in a baking dish, top with cheese, and bake until bubbles and heated. This method saves stove time and makes cleaning easier. Just pay attention to the texture of the pasta to avoid overcooking.

Store protein pasta in the refrigerator

Here’s how to keep leftovers fresh for a few days:

• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Gently warm leftovers in a frying pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated. You can also microwave and stir halfway to ensure heating.
• Leftovers:

  • Turn the remaining leftovers into a toasted pasta casserole by adding extra cheese to the top and baking until bubbles.