Goat Cheese Pasta

Goat Cheese Pasta

from eatthegains.com
30 min

Easy 30-minute goat cheese pasta made with chicken, tons of fresh veggies, and a simple creamy goat cheese sauce. A light yet comforting dish packed with protein, carbs, and healthy fats for a well-balanced meal.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 4 cups broccoli florets ((250 grams))
  • 2 cups diced bell pepper ((260 grams))
  • 3 packed cups kale, roughly chopped ((75 grams))
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved ((150 grams))
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • optional toppings: fresh herbs, goat cheese, red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup pasta water ((from cooking your pasta))
  • 5 ounces goat cheese ((1 heaping cup))
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. 1

    Cook pasta according to the instructions. When draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, which will be used to make the sauce.

  2. 2

    Cook the chicken. When the water is starting to heat up, you’ll start cooking your chicken and veggies. It takes about 17-20 minutes to cook everything else, so start cooking according to how long it takes your pasta to cook. Add oil to a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and let it get hot. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Then add chicken and salt and pepper and saute for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the pan and set aside.

  3. 3

    Cook the veggies. In the same pan with the remaining chicken juices, add broccoli and salt and pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add peppers and salt and pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Finally, add chopped kale and saute for another 1-2 minutes. Turn down the heat to low.

  4. 4

    Make the sauce. Drain pasta, saving at least 1 cup of the pasta water. Add to a jar and add your goat cheese, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Mix until goat cheese kind of melts and becomes creamy. It will be a little runny but will thicken up when you add it back to the pan.

  5. 5

    Assemble. Add cooked pasta, cooked chicken and juices, and goat cheese sauce to the pan. Mix well to combine and let warm through, about 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes and carefully mix to combine.

  6. 6

    Enjoy! Top with fresh herbs and enjoy!