Creamy Plant-Based Chicken & White Bean Pasta

A hearty and flavorful one-pan pasta dish featuring tender plant-based chicken, cannellini beans, and sun-dried tomatoes, all coated in a rich, creamy sauce and finished with fresh basil.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 18 min
• Total: 28 min
• Servings: 4
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $4.88/serving

Dietary

• Vegetarian
• High-Protein
• Nut-Free
• Egg-Free
• High-Fiber
• Pescatarian

Tags

• one-pot
• quick
• sauté
• savory
• comfort food
• healthy

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 12 ounce plant-based chicken breast (cubed)
• 1 yellow onion (small, diced)
• 4 clove garlic (minced)
• 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained and chopped)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 can cannellini beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 cup whole wheat penne pasta
• 2 cup vegetable broth
• 5 ounce fresh spinach
• 4 ounce cream cheese (softened)
• 0.25 cup fresh basil (chopped)
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add the cubed plant-based chicken breast and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
2. Add the diced yellow onion to the same skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, and optional red pepper flakes. Cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the rinsed and drained cannellini beans, whole wheat penne pasta, and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
4. Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the fresh spinach until it wilts, then add the softened cream cheese, cooked plant-based chicken, 1/4 cup fresh basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
5. Serve hot, garnished with additional fresh basil and optional grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 485
• Protein: 28.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 58.7 g
• Fat: 17.5 g
• Fiber: 15.2 g
• Sodium: 750 mg
• Saturated Fat: 9.5 g
• Sugar: 5.1 g
• Cholesterol: 28 mg