Knock Your Socks Off High-Protein, Low-Calorie Chicken

Soooo delicious!

Blend creamy cottage cheese with savory basil pesto to make a rich, high-protein sauce. Toss it with roasted Costco chicken tenders and blistered cherry tomatoes for a quick, macro-friendly meal loaded with over 40 grams of protein per serving.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

• 12 pieces chicken tenderloins (I get mine at Costco)

• 1 cup 1% cottage cheese

• 1/2 cup prepared basil pesto (I make my own - recipe at bottom of page)

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1/2 tsp hot crushed chili pepper flakes (or to your preference)

• Salt and black pepper to taste. I like to use Herbamare seasoning instead of salt and pepper.

• Optional - 8 oz regular spaghettini or even high-protein or chickpea pasta

Instructions

• Marinate the chicken: Place the frozen tenderloins in a sealed container with 3 heaping tablespoons of pesto and mix until coated. Let the chicken marinate in the container either on the counter or in the fridge until thawed.

• Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove from the pan and slice.

• Make the sauce: Mix the cottage cheese and the remaining basil pesto in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy.

• Blister the tomatoes: In the same skillet over medium heat, add the cherry tomatoes. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

• Combine: Reduce heat to low. Stir the blended pesto-cottage cheese sauce into the skillet with the tomatoes. Warm through gently for 1 minute (do not boil, or the cottage cheese may separate).

• Toss and serve: Add the sliced chicken to the skillet. Toss until well coated and warm. Serve as is, or toss in pasta.
  
  Breakdown Per Serving

  1. Without Pasta (As Is)

  • Calories:~364 kcal

  • Protein: ~48g

  2. With Regular Spaghettini (8 oz/ 226g dry total split into 4 servings)

  • Calories: ~564 kcal

  • Protein: ~55g

  3. With High-Protein Pasta (8 oz / 226g dry total split into 4 servings)

  • Calories: ~569 kcal

  • Protein: ~59g
    
    
    To Make Your Own Pesto:
    Puree until smooth

    1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
    1/2 cup packed down fresh basil
    1/2 cup of pine nuts
    1/3 cup good quality olive oil (you can use more if you like but start with that)
    fresh minced garlic to your taste (I use 3 cloves)
    salt and pepper to tast