This high-protein pasta will satisfy your macros

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is tough, not gonna lie, but it doesn’t have to be painful when you add meals like our Ultimate High-Protein Smoked Chicken Pasta. It’s full of tasty veggies, cream sauce, and, of course, smoked chicken.

Why Smoked Chicken?

Smoked chicken is a good source of high-quality protein, low in fat if using skinless cuts, and retains its essential vitamins and minerals like B vitamins and selenium. It also has a longer shelf life due to the preservation properties of smoke.

The smoking process imparts a rich flavor and can make the meat more tender.

Here’s why smoked chicken is excellent for high-protein meals:

• High in protein: Smoked chicken is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is crucial for muscle repair and overall body function.
• Rich in vitamins and minerals: The smoking method helps retain essential nutrients, including B vitamins, Niacin, Selenium, and Phosphorus, which support energy production, brain function, and the immune system.
• Low in fat: Smoking is a low-fat cooking method, especially when using skinless cuts. This method can also help eliminate some of the fat content compared to other cooking methods like frying.

Quick smoke

We used a Halftime Smoker to cook a six-pound whole chicken. The grill time in this smoker was 60 minutes (about 10 minutes per pound). Thanks to the cylindrical design (allowing for cooks at higher temperatures with efficient convective heating) the cook was short.

The rest time was about 30 minutes when we pulled all the chicken from the bones. We set aside for later.

Smoked chicken is versatile and prevalent in high-protein dishes, as well as decadent appetizers for tailgates.

High-Protein Goodies

We included a hearty high-protein chickpea pasta as a base for this dish.

We opted for unsalted butter and blended cottage cheese to bring some creaminess to each bite.

Veggie-wise, we threw in some celery, green onions, garlic, diced tomatoes and fresh spinach.

Now, if you are feeling frisky, definitely throw in some asparagus, mushrooms, and maybe some avocado just before serving.

And to push the over-the-top flavor, we got a little crazy with some Heath Riles Buffalo Seasoning (so good!).

Happy Grilling!

Ultimate High-Protein Smoked Chicken Pasta

This high-protein smoked chicken pasta is rich and indulgent in flavor, yet it's lightened up and packed with protein.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Cool Down 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Southern

Servings 6 people

Calories 232 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound protein pasta
• 4 T butter
• 1/4 c celery
• 1/4 c green onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 splash white wine
• 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 3 c fresh spinach
• 1 c cottage cheese blended
• 12 oz pulled smoked chicken
• Heath Riles Buffalo Seasoning

Instructions

 

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Brown butter, sautéed celery onion and garlic.
• Add tomatoes and spinach. Turn off heat.
• Blend cottage cheese with buffalo seasoning until smooth. Add to sauce pan
• Drain pasta, put in large bowl.
• Add in warmed chicken. Pour over sauce and mix.
• Serve immediately.

Keyword cottage cheese, high protein, macros, pasta, smoked chicken, tomato