Summer Pasta Recipe

So if you follow along here then you probably know that I like to cook and love all things related to food. However, I will be the first to admit that I’m not exactly a chef in the kitchen, and therefore don’t post too many recipes. BUT I am always happy to pass along any (simple) dishes that can help you enjoy the foods you love in a healthy, balanced way.

This baked pasta dish is one of them.

Part of the reason I love a baked pasta dish is because you can take a general recipe and customize it to fit your food preferences. For me personally, I love to bulk up my pasta with lots of vegetables and some additional protein because it’s a great way to enjoy noodles and feel satisfied without going overboard on carbohydrates and calories. And with all of the summer vegetables available right now, it’s the perfect dish to make for meal prep for the week!

Ingredients:

• 2 cooked chicken breasts
• 2 C whole wheat rotini
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 yellow squash
• 1 zucchini
• 1 onion
• 1 egg
• 1 jar of preferred marinara sauce
• 1 C preferred cheese, shredded

Instructions:

1. Dice up vegetables and lightly sauté in EVOO and garlic until slightly tender

2. Beat egg and mix with marinara sauce

3. Add marinara/egg mixture, dry pasta and sautéed vegetables together and pour in baking dish

4. Top with cheese, cover with foil and bake on 325 for 30 minutes

5. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese is slightly golden (about 5 min)

6. Enjoy!

I like dishes like this because they are filling but don’t really feel heavy to me when I bring them to work for lunch. I think it’s because there is more balance between carbs, protein and vegetables. And the great thing about this recipe is you could really sub the vegetables for whatever you liked. I probably would have added mushrooms if I had some on hand.

I personally like to prepare my chicken in the crock pot on low for about 4 hours with a little bit of chicken broth. The chicken basically falls apart and is easy to pull apart for recipes like this.

Are you a fan of baked pasta dishes?

Do you have any recipes to use up summer vegetables? Share below!