Wholewheat pasta with chicken and pesto

A tasty, high-protein pasta dish: wholewheat pasta, grilled chicken and pesto, all in 20 minutes. Rich in protein and quality carbohydrate, it is a restorative meal that is ideal around training.

Preparation: 10 min  |  Cooking: 15 min  |  Servings: 2  |  Difficulty: Easy

Calculated per serving from Anses Ciqual 2025 values for each ingredient, based on the quantities listed. Household measures (spoonfuls, pieces) use average weights. 626 kcal · 41 g protein · 44 g carbohydrate · 31 g fat

Ingredients

• 250 g wholewheat pasta
• 2 chicken breasts
• 3 tbsp pesto
• 200 g cherry tomatoes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Parmesan

Method

1. Cook the wholewheat pasta until al dente.
2. Cook the diced chicken and fry the cherry tomatoes.
3. Mix the pasta with the pesto and a little pasta cooking water.
4. Add the chicken and tomatoes and scatter over the Parmesan.

Nutritional benefits

This dish combines protein (chicken, 40 g per serving) and complex carbohydrate (wholewheat pasta) to support muscle and refuel after exercise. Wholewheat pasta provides fibre and a lower glycaemic index, and the pesto provides good fats through the olive oil. A complete, restorative meal.

Variations and substitutions

• With prawns or salmon.
• Homemade pesto or red pesto.
• More vegetables: courgette, spinach, rocket.
• Gluten-free: pulse-based pasta.

Storage and making ahead

Keeps for 2 days and can be eaten hot or cold as a pasta salad. Ideal for a lunchbox.

💡 Good to know

Keep a little of the pasta cooking water: mixed with the pesto, it makes a creamy sauce without any extra fat.

Read more

Discover more high-protein recipes · muscle-gain recipes.

Foods in this recipe: pasta · chicken breasts · pesto · cherry tomatoes.

You might also like these recipes: Banana protein pancakes · Courgettes stuffed with minced beef · Salmon, brown rice and broccoli (meal prep).