Creamy Tomato and Spinach Ground Chicken Pasta
Tender ground chicken and whole-wheat pasta tossed in a rich, high-protein tomato sauce made creamy with blended cottage cheese and fresh spinach. A wholesome, comforting 20-minute dinner.
Prep
10 min
Cook
12 min
Total
22 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Julia + Lila
Julia created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
10 min
Cook
12 min
Total
22 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Blender · Large skillet
Time saver
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 7 steps complete
Next: Bring a pot of water to a…
- 01
Bring a pot of water to a…
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the whole-wheat pasta and cook for 9 to 10 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
Look for: al dente, then drain and set aside
Tap card to mark done - 02
Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in…
While the pasta cooks, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Tap card to mark done - 03
Add the ground chicken and cook for…
Add the ground chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon until no longer pink and browned throughout.
Look for: no longer pink and browned throughout
Tap card to mark done - 04
Stir in 1 garlic clove and 0
Stir in 1 garlic clove and 0.5 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
Look for: fragrant
Tap card to mark done - 05
Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in…
Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in 0.5 cup of tomato sauce and 60g of cottage cheese until fully incorporated and warm.
Look for: fully incorporated and warm
Tap card to mark done - 06
Fold in 1 cup of baby spinach…
Fold in 1 cup of baby spinach leaves and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted.
Look for: wilted
Tap card to mark done - 07
Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet
Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet, stirring for 1 minute so the pasta absorbs the creamy sauce before serving.
Allow: 1 minute
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