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Creamy Hot Honey Basil Pasta Salad (Healthy + High-Protein!)

Creamy Hot Honey Basil Pasta Salad (Healthy + High-Protein!)

Swapped the mayo for cottage cheese in this basil sauce to make sure we’re getting enough protein in!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb high-protein pasta (like Banza or Barilla Protein+)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2 cups cucumber diced
  • 1 cup red bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion diced
  • 1 cup crumbled feta
  • 1 cup grilled chicken cubed
  • 2 cups fresh basil
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 clove garlic
  • 2 tbsp grated parm (optional)
  • 2 tsp hot honey (plus more for drizzling)
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Water or milk to thin if needed

Method
 

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Rinse with cold water and let it cool.
  1. Blend all sauce ingredients until smooth. Thin with water or milk if needed.
  1. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, chopped veggies, feta, and chicken.
  1. Pour over the sauce and toss to coat. Finish with a drizzle of hot honey, some fresh parm, and a squeeze of lemon.

Notes

  • This dish gets better as it sits in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep.
  • Use high-protein pasta to make the dish more filling and nutritious.
  • Adjust the amount of hot honey based on your spice preference.
  • For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and add more veggies or chickpeas.