Busy day? Ravenous appetite? And an urge for something healthy yet instantly gratifying? We’ve got you covered with our Chicken Pesto Pasta paired with Spicy Honey Rainbow Asparagus. This vibrant, nutritious dish brings a burst of Italian-inspired flavours, delivering on both health and taste in under 15 minutes!
Not only is this dish a treat for your taste buds, but it also packs a substantial nutritional punch—with each serving delivering a whopping 41g of protein and coming in at just 492 calories. It’s the perfect solution for those busy days when you need a quick, satisfying, and balanced meal.
And while the heat is optional, we’ve found that a hint of spicy honey on the asparagus adds a delightfully unexpected twist. Feel free to adjust to your preference, creating a dish that’s perfectly tailored to you. So, are you ready to whip up a storm and bring a slice of Italy into your kitchen with our Rainbow Asparagus with Pesto Chicken Macaroni? Let’s get cooking!
Rainbow Asparagus with Pesto Chicken Macaroni
Ingredients
Pesto Pasta
- 250 grams diced chicken breast
- 80 grams reduced fat green pesto (this is just under half a jar because I like to save some for sandwiches, feel free to use half a jar, or your jars recommended serving size if it's a big one)
- 100 grams uncooked macaroni pasta shapes (any shaped pasta is fine)
- 1 block frozen spinach
- 1 handful whole green beans
- 3 spring onions
Chilli Honey Asparagus
- 12 spears rainbow asparagus
- 30 grams honey
- 0.5 tsp chilli flakes
Instructions
- Put your macaroni (or pasta of choice) in a pan of water & cook according to the packets instructions. Put a large pan or work on a medium/high heat to preheat for your chicken.
- Dice the chicken breast & slice your spring onions (keep a few spring onions to one side for garnish), once the pan is hot add those in with some salt & pepper*.
- Defrost your spinach by microwaving it for a minute. Chop the top & bottom off your green beans then roughly chop them into 3 pieces.
- Put your asparagus into the air frier for 5 minutes at 200°C. If you didn't buy just the tips, cut the tough end off the bottom.
- Let that cook for about two minutes & give the pan a good mix. Wait another couple of minutes & stir again. Add some pasta water to deglaze any bits getting stuck on the bottom. Give it a couple more minutes then add your green beans & spinach.
- Take out your asparagus, place it on some tinfoil or air fryer safe silicone & drizzle over the honey, then sprinkle with chilli flakes. Return to the air fryer on 200°C for 5 minutes.
- Drain any remaining water off your pasta once it's cooked, leaving about half a cup to one side.
- Tip the pasta into the pan with the chicken & veggies. Mix everything throughly then turn off the heat.
- Add the pesto into the pan & mix well. Add a bit at a time of the pasta water you saved until it's a nice consistency.
- Put the pesto pasta on one side of a large bowl or plate, put your asparagus on the other side, drizzle the hot honey off the tin foil over the asparagus using a spoon. Enjoy!
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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