Description
A creamy, protein-packed meal perfect for lunch or dinner. Easy to prepare and great for meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 8 oz cavatappi pasta (preferably Banza chickpea pasta)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp gluten-free 1-to-1 flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 2 cups milk (2% or whole milk), at room temperature
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese (4 oz)
- ½ cup freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz)
- 1 cup 4% cottage cheese, at room temperature
- ⅓ cup buffalo wing sauce
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- ranch dressing (optional)
- chopped green onion (optional)
Instructions
- Toss cubed chicken breast with smoked paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add seasoned chicken and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Blend cottage cheese, buffalo sauce, and 3 tbsp reserved pasta water until smooth. Add more pasta water if needed.
- Return pan to medium heat. Melt butter, then whisk in flour for 1 minute. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly. Cook until bubbly, about 2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add shredded cheeses and whisk until melted.
- Stir in blended buffalo cottage cheese mixture, cooked pasta, and chicken. Toss to coat.
- Serve with ranch dressing and chopped green onion if desired.
Notes
- Use room-temperature milk and cottage cheese for smoother blending.
- For extra spice, add more cayenne or buffalo sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: high-protein, chicken mac and cheese, meal prep, healthy dinner, easy recipe