High Protein Peri Peri Chicken Pasta
Dive into this zesty High Protein Peri Peri Chicken Pasta, where tender chicken meets a rich, creamy sauce that packs a spicy punch! With just 450 calories per serving, it's perfect for meal prep and features a delightful blend of vibrant peri peri sauce and al dente pasta. Get ready to savor a dish that's as easy to whip up as it is to enjoy!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(2)
- 1 chopped Onion and Bell Pepper
- Fresh Parsley
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 700 Raw Chicken Breast (350g per breast, 125g per fillet) (1.54 lbs)cubed chicken breast can be used
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- 100g Light Cream Cheese (Brand: Philadelphia Lightest) (3.53 oz)
- 200ml Skimmed Milk (6.76 fl oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 2 tsp Olive Oil (10 ml)
- 100ml Pasta Water (taken from the pot you cook pasta in) (3.38 fl oz)
- 225g uncooked Penne Pasta | 500g cooked weight (7.94 oz)
- 100g Tomato Paste (3.53 oz)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(5)
- Extra Seasoning to taste(Salt, Pepper, Oregano, Chilli Flakes)
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder (15 ml)
- 1 tbsp Oregano (15 ml)
- 1 tbsp Paprika (15 ml)
- tsp Salt & Pepper
📦Other(2)
- tsp Chilli Flakes
- 50-80g Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce or Marinade (1.76-2.82 oz)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Slice your chicken breast and season with oregano, paprika, garlic powder, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix till the color changes then cook on medium heat till golden brown.
- 2
Set the chicken aside then add chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook for a minute before adding tomato paste, low-fat milk, light cream cheese, pasta water, and peri-peri sauce. Mix till thick and creamy, add more seasoning with fresh parsley and cooked pasta. Give it a final mix, garnish then serve and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pound chicken breast to 3/4-inch thickness before slicing to ensure even cooking and prevent the exterior from overcooking while the center reaches 165°F.technique3/4-inch thickness
- ✓Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining because the starches act as a natural emulsifier to bind the cream cheese sauce without breaking.technique1 cup pasta water
- ✓Temper the cream cheese by whisking it with 2-3 tablespoons of warm pasta water before adding to the pan to prevent curdling from temperature shock.technique2-3 tablespoons
- ✓Cook the tomato paste for 60-90 seconds until it darkens slightly to caramelize the sugars and eliminate raw acidity that would compete with the peri-peri sauce.timing60-90 seconds
- ✓Add pasta to the sauce when it's 1-2 minutes underdone so it finishes cooking in the sauce, absorbing flavors while releasing additional starch for better sauce adhesion.timing1-2 minutes underdone
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
High Protein Peri Peri Chicken Pasta
Dive into this zesty High Protein Peri Peri Chicken Pasta, where tender chicken meets a rich, creamy sauce that packs a spicy punch! With just 450 calories per serving, it's perfect for meal prep and features a delightful blend of vibrant peri peri sauce and al dente pasta. Get ready to savor a dish that's as easy to whip up as it is to enjoy!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(2)
- 1 chopped Onion and Bell Pepper
- Fresh Parsley
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 700 Raw Chicken Breast (350g per breast, 125g per fillet) (1.54 lbs)cubed chicken breast can be used
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- 100g Light Cream Cheese (Brand: Philadelphia Lightest) (3.53 oz)
- 200ml Skimmed Milk (6.76 fl oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(4)
- 2 tsp Olive Oil (10 ml)
- 100ml Pasta Water (taken from the pot you cook pasta in) (3.38 fl oz)
- 225g uncooked Penne Pasta | 500g cooked weight (7.94 oz)
- 100g Tomato Paste (3.53 oz)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(5)
- Extra Seasoning to taste(Salt, Pepper, Oregano, Chilli Flakes)
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder (15 ml)
- 1 tbsp Oregano (15 ml)
- 1 tbsp Paprika (15 ml)
- tsp Salt & Pepper
📦Other(2)
- tsp Chilli Flakes
- 50-80g Nando’s Peri Peri Sauce or Marinade (1.76-2.82 oz)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Slice your chicken breast and season with oregano, paprika, garlic powder, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix till the color changes then cook on medium heat till golden brown.
- 2
Set the chicken aside then add chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook for a minute before adding tomato paste, low-fat milk, light cream cheese, pasta water, and peri-peri sauce. Mix till thick and creamy, add more seasoning with fresh parsley and cooked pasta. Give it a final mix, garnish then serve and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pound chicken breast to 3/4-inch thickness before slicing to ensure even cooking and prevent the exterior from overcooking while the center reaches 165°F.technique3/4-inch thickness
- ✓Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining because the starches act as a natural emulsifier to bind the cream cheese sauce without breaking.technique1 cup pasta water
- ✓Temper the cream cheese by whisking it with 2-3 tablespoons of warm pasta water before adding to the pan to prevent curdling from temperature shock.technique2-3 tablespoons
- ✓Cook the tomato paste for 60-90 seconds until it darkens slightly to caramelize the sugars and eliminate raw acidity that would compete with the peri-peri sauce.timing60-90 seconds
- ✓Add pasta to the sauce when it's 1-2 minutes underdone so it finishes cooking in the sauce, absorbing flavors while releasing additional starch for better sauce adhesion.timing1-2 minutes underdone