Looking for a high-protein, delicious meal that comes together easily? This creamy chicken and bell pepper pasta is the perfect solution for your weekly meal prep. By browning your spiced chicken and coating it in a rich, cheesy quark sauce in the same pan, you save on prep time while maximizing flavor.
Ingredients
450g Chicken Breast (Migros)
24g Lemon Juice (about half a lemon) (Migros)
1 tsp Smoked Paprika (Migros)
1 tsp Garlic Powder (Migros)
1/2 tsp Cumin (Migros)
1/2 tsp Turmeric (Migros)
1 tsp Oregano (Migros)
1 tsp Salt & 1 tsp Pepper
15g Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Migros)
90g Red Onions (Migros)
90g Raw Red Bell Peppers (Migros)
3 cloves Garlic (Migros)
150g M-Classic Magerquark (Migros)
30g M-Classic Cheddar (Migros)
30g Parmigiano Reggiano DOP Bio (Migros)
180g Alnatura Bio Penne (Migros)
Instructions
Prep the marinade:
Cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes and marinate it with the lemon juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, turmeric, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and half of the olive oil.
Cook the pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Don't forget to reserve a small amount of the starchy pasta water before draining!
Brown the chicken:
Sauté the marinated chicken in a pan with the remaining olive oil for about 5 minutes. Once it is nicely browned on all sides, set it aside on a plate.
Sweat the veggies:
In the same pan, sauté the diced red bell peppers and chopped red onions for a few minutes until softened, then add the minced fresh garlic.
Create the cheesy sauce:
Reduce the heat to low. Add the Magerquark, cheddar, and parmesan to the pan. Stir gently to create a smooth, creamy sauce. (Tip: If the quark makes the sauce too thick, add a splash of the starchy water from your boiled pasta to thin it out perfectly).
Mix it all together:
Stir the cooked chicken back into the pan. Let it simmer on low for a few minutes so the flavors meld, then pour in your cooked penne and toss everything together until the pasta is generously coated.
Serve and enjoy:
Divide everything evenly into your meal prep containers.
Nutritional Macros (Per Portion)
This recipe yields 3 generous portions. The macros below are calculated for a single portion.
Calories: ~663 kcal
Protein: 61.7 g
Carbohydrates: 52.2 g
Fat: 23 g
Fiber: 2.5 g
Shopping list & Price
The following shopping list contains all the ingredients needed by the recipe. The cost is an approximation, and of course, some ingredients will remain and can be used by other recipes.
Price of the shopping list: ~47.53 CHF
Price per portion: ~15.85 CHF
