High Protein Chicken Fajita Pasta
This high protein chicken fajita pasta combines juicy seasoned chicken, colorful peppers, creamy cheddar sauce, and protein-packed pasta for a satisfying and flavorful weeknight dinner.
Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet
- wooden spoon
- knife
- cutting board
- colander
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 1/2 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 12 oz high-protein pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 1/2 cup light cream cheese
- 1 cup light cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 handful fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the high-protein pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced red onion and green bell pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the garlic powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, black pepper, and tomato paste. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cream cheese and shredded cheddar until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, using reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Stir in the cooked chicken and mix until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Finish with freshly chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Reserve enough pasta water to loosen the sauce if it thickens too much. You can substitute Greek yogurt cream cheese for extra protein or use whole wheat pasta for additional fiber. Garnish with extra parsley or chili flakes for added flavor.