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  7. 24 Comforting Creamy Pasta Dinners That Are High in Protein

24 Comforting Creamy Pasta Dinners That Are High in Protein

portrait of Dani
Danielle DeAngelis Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD September 04, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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skillet lasagna
Credit: William Dickey

There's something comforting about enjoying a bowl of creamy, cheesy pasta for dinner, and these recipes bring out that warm feeling. With at least 15 grams of protein per serving, these dishes can help support immune function, muscle growth and healthy digestion. Plus, protein-rich ingredients like chicken, shrimp and legumes paired with fiber-rich grains and vegetables help give these meals some staying power.  Recipes like our Skillet Lasagna and Quick Shrimp Puttanesca are cozy choices for a delicious, filling evening meal.

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Skillet Lasagna

skillet lasagna
Credit: William Dickey
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This skillet lasagna takes the hard work of layering the noodles, filling and cheese out of the picture and turns lasagna into a super-easy weeknight meal.

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Quick Shrimp Puttanesca

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Because refrigerated fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, this Italian-inspired pasta dish will be on the table lickety-split! Puttanesca, traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic, gets shrimp for extra protein and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings (and the fiber!). If you can't find frozen artichoke hearts, sub in drained canned artichoke hearts.

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Creamy Spinach Pasta

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This might be one of the creamiest light pasta dishes you've ever had! The mascarpone cheese adds a richness to the spinach pasta that's unexpected--especially in a healthy pasta recipe.

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Skillet Chili Mac

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Poblanos add a kick of heat to this chili mac recipe. If that's not your thing, swap in green bell peppers to tone down the heat in this easy pasta dish, which mashes up mac and cheese and chili into a seriously satisfying skillet dinner.

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Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta
Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Sammy Mila
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You'll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

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One-Pot Cheesy Tex-Mex Pasta

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This comforting one-pot pasta dish has a Southwestern kick. Chili powder and pico de gallo flavor the dish, while melted Mexican cheese adds a creamy finish. Top it with your favorite fixings like scallions, cilantro and sour cream, and serve it alongside a crisp green salad for an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love.

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Linguine with Lemon Alfredo Shrimp

Linguine with Lemon Alfredo Shrimp
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This bright and lemony shrimp pasta dish was inspired by traditional Alfredo but comes in at only a fraction of the fat and calories. Reduced-fat cream cheese adds body to the sauce, while Parmesan cheese adds its signature robust flavor. This recipe calls for brown rice pasta, which is gluten-free, but if gluten is not a concern for you feel free to serve this sauce over regular linguine or fettucine--or any pasta you like!

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One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

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This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.

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One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini

One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini
Credit: Diana Chistruga
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This one-pot creamy chicken with zucchini is comfort food at its best. Here, we take advantage of fresh summer zucchini, which lightens up the dish. This easy dinner is made all in one pot on the stovetop, so you can give your oven a rest on a warm day and enjoy an easy cleanup.

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Linguine with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

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This easy pasta recipe is an excuse to buy wild mushrooms, available at many grocery stores these days. Or if you prefer white buttons, those will work well too. The creamy linguine is ready in 40 minutes, so it's quick enough for an easy weeknight recipe but it feels fancy enough for entertaining.

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Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
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This easy inside-out ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food--no layering or mixing bowls required. Feel free to swap in ground turkey for the beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also called "pearls") in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.

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One-Pot Mac & Cheese with Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts

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Taking a minute to sizzle some garlic in olive oil is a simple way to pep up the cheese sauce for this easy homemade mac and cheese, and the flavor plays well with the cauliflower and Brussels sprouts in this family-friendly pasta dish. This recipe is designed for you to make a big batch of the cheese sauce to use in different dishes: Stir it into pasta and veggies to make this pasta a one-pot dinner then use it for Cheesy Beef Enchilada Casserole later in the week (see Associated Recipes). Or simply serve it over your favorite steamed vegetables for an easy side dish. If you'd rather make just enough sauce for this pasta, simply cut the sauce amounts in half.

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Ground Beef & Pasta Skillet

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Sneak extra vegetables into your child's day (and yours too!) with this easy one-skillet pasta recipe. Finely chop mushrooms to resemble the texture of ground beef and stir them into a classic meat sauce for an extra-healthy twist on a dinnertime favorite.

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Creamy Penne alla Vodka with Chicken & Spinach

Creamy Penne alla Vodka with Chicken and Spinach
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This creamy penne alla vodka with chicken and spinach is warm and comforting with bright flavors from crushed tomatoes and fresh spinach. Chicken cutlets cook up quickly and offer the perfect complement to the quick and creamy sauce. Serve with a piece of crusty bread and a green salad on the side.

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Creamy Spinach Pasta with White Beans

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Here, we whir up fresh spinach and kale with cream cheese and Gruyère for the luscious sauce that highlights this rich pasta dish. Paired with beans, it makes a filling vegetarian meal.

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Spinach-Tomato Macaroni & Cheese

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An old-school classic gets a boost of nutrition and flavor from garlicky spinach and tomatoes in this healthy mac and cheese recipe.

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Cheesy Meatball Casserole

cheesy meatball casserole
Credit: Jen Causey
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This cheesy meatball casserole is a family favorite, with basil adding flavor to the meatballs and grated onion adding moisture. Melted mozzarella cheese tames the spice, but feel free to cut back or eliminate the crushed red pepper if you prefer a milder dish.

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Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

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If you've ever wanted to make a meal out of warm spinach and artichoke dip, this creamy pasta is for you. And here's what's almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

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Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells
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Our stuffed shells are filled with spinach, sautéed onions and part-skim ricotta and topped with prepared marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese. The shells hold and reheat well, which makes them great for entertaining.

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Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese

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Fiber-rich sweet potato is used as the base for the cheese sauce in this healthy, homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. The bright orange color tricks your eyes into thinking this healthy macaroni and cheese recipe is loaded with cheese, but there's actually only about half as much cheese as compared to a traditional recipe.

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Shrimp Alfredo

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Healthify classic fettuccine Alfredo by adding protein-rich shrimp and using whole-wheat noodles instead of white for extra fiber. We love the full flavor of Asiago cheese in this quick and comforting dinner, but any hard Italian cheese, like Parmigiano Reggiano or Romano, will work well too.

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Creamy Arugula Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes

Creamy Arugula Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes
Credit: Charlotte & Johnny Autry
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Here, we jazz up store-bought pesto with peppery arugula and tangy goat cheese to make a creamy pasta sauce.

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Creamy Mushroom & Spinach Pasta

Creamy Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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Make this creamy mushroom and spinach pasta for an easy, healthy dinner. Be sure to save some of the pasta-cooking water as it helps the sauce emulsify.

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One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta

One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta makes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. We opt for small shells in this recipe, but any other small pasta, like orecchiette, would work, too.

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    1 of 24 Skillet Lasagna
    2 of 24 Quick Shrimp Puttanesca
    3 of 24 Creamy Spinach Pasta
    4 of 24 Skillet Chili Mac
    5 of 24 Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta
    6 of 24 One-Pot Cheesy Tex-Mex Pasta
    7 of 24 Linguine with Lemon Alfredo Shrimp
    8 of 24 One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta
    9 of 24 One-Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini
    10 of 24 Linguine with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
    11 of 24 Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
    12 of 24 One-Pot Mac & Cheese with Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts
    13 of 24 Ground Beef & Pasta Skillet
    14 of 24 Creamy Penne alla Vodka with Chicken & Spinach
    15 of 24 Creamy Spinach Pasta with White Beans
    16 of 24 Spinach-Tomato Macaroni & Cheese
    17 of 24 Cheesy Meatball Casserole
    18 of 24 Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta
    19 of 24 Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells
    20 of 24 Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese
    21 of 24 Shrimp Alfredo
    22 of 24 Creamy Arugula Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes
    23 of 24 Creamy Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
    24 of 24 One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta

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    24 Comforting Creamy Pasta Dinners That Are High in Protein
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