There’s nothing quite like a comforting, tasty and nutritious one-pot pasta dish (that takes no time at all to make!) on a busy weeknight. Your kiddos will love it too!
Who doesn’t love pasta?! As a dietitian and busy Mom I know that I do! Pasta is an easy and nutritious starch option for families, especially when you pair it with some protein and veggies. Although carbohydrate foods (especially grains and starches) have been vilified over the last decade or so (thanks low carb phase), we know that carbohydrates are our bodies number one source of fuel. Kids (and adults) require carbohydrates to fuel our bodily tissues so that we can function well during the day. When we pair a starchy carb with protein and veggies, it helps to make that energy long-lasting and keep our blood sugar levels stable after a meal.
You can definitely use a legume-based pasta or whole grain pasta, both of which would provide you with a little bit more fibre and protein, OR you can choose your favourite white pasta (this is usually what we do because there’s nothing quite like it!) and then make sure that you’re including other foods that provide fibre, protein and vitamins and minerals.
This one-pot pasta is a meal-in-one
That’s why I love this recipe SO much. It’s literally a balanced meal all in one! We’ve got the star ingredient (pasta), chicken (protein) and broccoli (veggie!). And it’s made all in one pot. What busy parent doesn’t love one-pot meals?! (You might also enjoy this easy Mediterranean linguini or skillet vegetarian Mexican mac and cheese) To balance this out even more, I’d serve a veggie tray with dip or a salad on the side, and maybe even some cut up fruit. As parents, we know that not all kids are going to love everything we serve, so it’s always important to have a variety of foods at the table to choose from.
This recipe makes great leftovers for lunchkits the day after (or dinner another night during the week!
Enjoy!
Creamy Chicken and Broccoli One-Pot Pasta
There’s nothing quite like a comforting, tasty and nutritious one-pot pasta dish (that takes no time at all to make!) on a busy weeknight. Your kiddos will love it too!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp butter
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 2 tsp dried herbs of choice (basil, oregano, thyme etc.)
- 1/2 cup sundried tomato (I used jarred sundried tomatoes)
- 1 package pasta (I used bows)
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
- 2-3 cups broccoli, washed and cut into small florets
- 1/2 cup half and half cream
- 1/2 cup fresh parmesan, grated
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add sundried tomatoes, garlic, dried herbs and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add the pasta, water and broth and stir, bringing to a light boil (increase temp to medium-high). Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broccoli and chicken, cover, and cook 5 minutes more, until pasta is al dente. Uncover and cook at a low simmer for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the half and half and Parmesan. Enjoy!
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