This Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a delicious and easy weeknight meal that your entire family will love! Weight Watchers Crockpot recipes are healthy and yummy! I love that you can make this in the Instant Pot, slow cooker, or even on the stove.
Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta
When a pasta craving strikes I get nervous…It’s so easy to go off the rails when you get super hungry for pasta on the Weight Watchers Freestyle program. The good news is that this creamy and indulgent pasta recipe is Weight Watchers friendly and won’t blow your whole days worth of points!
How many Freestyle Smart Points are in this Weight Watchers Tuscan chicken pasta?
My first question is always “how many points” so let’s take a look at this tasty recipe and see how many Freestyle Smart Points you have to give up to indulge!
This recipe makes 6 servings (approximately 1 1/2C servings) and per serving you have 7 Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points. Just divide the recipe into 6 equal servings for your portion size.
Please note that certain products will change the points for this recipe, so make sure to note what we used for this recipe and points count.
What kind of ingredients do I use for Weight Watchers Freestyle recipes?
For this Weight Watchers Tuscan chicken pasta recipe I used fat free cottage cheese and fat free plain greek yogurt.
Using the fat free options is totally up to you but for the purposes of the calculations I’ve done, those are the types I used. If you want a creamier Tuscan Chicken Pasta, you can bump up the fat in the cottage cheese and greek yogurt, BUT know that this will change your points.
I also recommend using at least 2% because of the food additives needed to reduce the fat in the ingredients–I prefer to not use fat free for this reason.
How did you figure out that this recipe has 7 Freestyle Smart Points per serving?
To calculate Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points I use the recipe creator on the Weight Watchers website. It takes the ingredients and their points and divides them across the listed number of servings.
I noted a few alterations I used above so you can see exactly how I came up with this number. If you make any changes to the recipe you will need to recalculate on your own to come up with an accurate number of Freestyle Smart Points per serving.
Different brands can sometimes vary and we don’t always like everything that is included in a recipe we find online…these are great reminders of why it makes sense to calculate the points for yourself!
I do my best to provide an accurate count for all my Weight Watchers recipes but I still recommend you calculate for yourself if you have questions or concerns.
Do you have more delicious Weight Watchers Freestyle recipes?
You bet! There are a bunch of delicious options here at My Crazy Good Life. Check out some of these tasty dinner recipes:
- Weight Watchers Instant Pot Dinner Recipes | Freestyle Recipes
- Weight Watchers Mac and Cheese
- Weight Watchers Instant Pot Goulash | Stovetop Instructions
- Weight Watchers Tacos
- Weight Watchers Cauliflower Pizza Crust
- Weight Watchers Steak Fajita Zoodles
- WW Friendly Swedish Meatballs | 5 Freestyle SmartPoints
How to cook Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta
1) Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
2) Next add the chicken to the Instant Pot. Brown the chicken for 1-2 minutes, this will keep the chicken from sticking together while cooking.
3) Add the pasta and chicken broth to the Instant Pot, if needed stir the pasta to make sure all the pasta is covered by the liquid.
4) Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure using the manual setting for 4 minutes. Quick releasing the pressure is preferred, but know that sometimes pasta can spray out and make a mess so watch for that.
5) While the pasta is cooking blend together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a cream sauce. Set it aside until ready to use.
6) Remove the Instant Pot lid and stir the noodles and pasta. While the pasta is still hot add the parmesan cheese, spinach, and basil. Mix the pasta until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
7) Pour the blended cream sauce over the pasta. Stir it until all the pasta is covered in sauce. Serve immediately.
Slow Cooker Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta
1) In a large skillet sauté the sun dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper on high heat for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
2) Add the chicken to the skillet, brown the chicken for 1-2 minutes. This will keep the chicken from sticking together while cooking.
3) Transfer the chicken and sun dried tomatoes to your slow cooker insert. Add the chicken broth.
4) Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high heat for 2-3 hour or low heat for 4-5 hours.
5) Add the pasta and stir the pasta to make sure it is all under the broth, add it in the last 30 minutes of cooking!
6) Remove the lid and stir in the parmesan cheese, spinach, and basil. Let the cheese melt and the spinach wilt.
7) Blend together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a cream sauce. Pour the cream sauce over the pasta and stir it until the pasta is completely covered in sauce. Serve immediately.
Note: If you are using dried basil instead of fresh add your basil when you sauté the sun-dried tomatoes instead of the end.
Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta Directions for the Stovetop
1) In a large skillet sauté the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper on high heat for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
2) Add the chicken to the skillet, brown the chicken for 1-2 minutes. This will keep the chicken from sticking together while cooking.
3) Pour the pasta and chicken broth in the skillet. Give it a quick stir to make sure all the pasta is covered by the liquid. Bring the broth a boil then reduce the temperature to medium heat.
4) Cover the pan and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is done.
5) While the pasta is still hot add the parmesan cheese, spinach, and basil. Mix the pasta until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
6) Blend together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a cream sauce. Pour the cream sauce over the pasta. Mix until all the pasta is covered in sauce. Serve immediately.
Is this a Weight Watchers Freestyle recipe I can use for meal prep?
No lie, this recipe is better the next day. After it sits in the fridge something magical happens with the sauce and the noodles. It’s amazing.
Weight Watchers Freestyle Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a great way to meal prep for the week. It makes great lunches or dinners and then you don’t have to think about making healthy food for the rest of the week
Printable Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe:
Weight Watchers Healthy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (no oil)
- 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 lbs. chicken breast diced into 1-inch cubes
- 12 oz whole wheat noodles (I used one 12 oz. box)
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 3/4 cup Fat Free Greek Yogurt
- 3/4 cup Fat Free cottage cheese
- 2/3 cup parmesan
- 1/4 cup fresh basil 1 tsp dried
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta Directions
- Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Next add the chicken to the Instant Pot. Brown the chicken for 1-2 minutes, this will keep the chicken from sticking together while cooking.
- Add the pasta and chicken broth to the Instant Pot, if needed stir the pasta to make sure all the pasta is covered by the liquid.
- Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure using the manual setting for 4 minutes. Quick releasing the pressure is preferred, but know that sometimes pasta can spray out and make a mess so watch for that.
- While the pasta is cooking blend together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a cream sauce. Set it aside until ready to use.
- Remove the Instant Pot lid and stir the noodles and pasta. While the pasta is still hot add the parmesan cheese, spinach, and basil. Mix the pasta until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
- Pour the blended cream sauce over the pasta. Stir it until all the pasta is covered in sauce. Serve immediately.
Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta Directions
- In a large skillet sauté the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper on high heat for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the chicken to the skillet, brown the chicken for 1-2 minutes. This will keep the chicken from sticking together while cooking.
- Transfer the chicken and sundried tomatoes to your slow cooker insert.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high heat for 2-3 hour or low heat for 4-5 hours.
- Add the pasta and stir the pasta to make sure it is all under the broth, add it in the last 30 minutes of cooking!
- Remove the lid and stir in the parmesan cheese, spinach, and basil. Let the cheese melt and the spinach wilt.
- Blend together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a cream sauce. Pour the cream sauce over the pasta and stir it until the pasta is completely covered in sauce. Serve immediately.
Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta Directions for the Stovetop
- In a large skillet sauté the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper on high heat for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the chicken to the skillet, brown the chicken for 1-2 minutes. This will keep the chicken from sticking together while cooking.
- Pour the pasta and chicken broth in the skillet. Give it a quick stir to make sure all the pasta is covered by the liquid. Bring the broth a boil then reduce the temperature to medium heat.
- Cover the pan and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is done.
- While the pasta is still hot add the parmesan cheese, spinach, and basil. Mix the pasta until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
- Blend together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a cream sauce. Pour the cream sauce over the pasta. Mix until all the pasta is covered in sauce. Serve immediately.
Please see the video for this recipe at MyCrazyGoodLife.com
Notes
Nutrition
*nutrition calculations are approximate
Brandi says
So many options for cooking this tuscan dish! I personally prefer instant pot for my latest cooking adventures.
Becca says
Yes, me too!
Renee Goerger says
Thank you for sharing this delicious looking recipe along with three different ways to make it. Sometimes I want to make things on the stovetop, and other times I need a quicker option like the instant pot. This is a recipe that I’m excited to make, and maybe I’ll make it each of the three ways!
Meagen Brosius says
I know what you mean! Sometimes I just don’t want to stand in the kitchen for the whole process. I love that with the IP I can set it and walk away! If you make it all three ways you’ll have to let us know which is your favorite!
Teresa W. says
This pasta dish is delicious. So much flavor! I made it on the stovetop and it was a quick and easy one pot meal. I will definitely make it again!
Becca says
Yay!! I’m so glad you liked it!
Susan says
What is a serving size for this recipe. It was delicious😋
Becca says
I’m so glad you liked it! A serving is about 1 1/2 cups :)
Nichole says
Hi! This looks amazing! I’m wondering if There is a substitute for the cottage cheese or if you can’t taste it at all. I have a strong aversion to it. Cream cheese? Sour cream? Or does it completely melt away? Thank you!!
Becca says
Nicole,
Hi there! I really, really dislike cottage cheese and I have no problem with this recipe since it’s blended smooth. Cottage cheese is so much healthier than cream cheese or sour cream, but you could use sour cream or even double the greek yogurt if you’d rather leave out the cottage cheese. BUT I promise you can’t taste it–and it makes the recipe a little lighter and not so creamy and heavy if that makes sense. :)
Susan says
Can you recommend a whole wheat pasta that you like? I haven’t found one yet. Thanks!
Becca says
Hi Susan! I really like Barilla!
Chandra says
Hi Becca. Trying to save from the print option and I got a message that pinning from that page is not allowed. Is there a particular train why not? It’s less distracting when I’m trying to prepare not having extraneous photos and ads.
Becca says
Hi Chandra! I have no idea about saving from Print, but it should most definitely be allowed! I’m going to email you the instructions and ingredients so you can just print from there. :)
Lynn says
My husband and I made this recipe tonight for supper. It was very tasty. Even my picky eater son didn’t complain, which is very surprising. I have saved this recipe and will be adding this to my monthly list. I love the healthier version and it is filling.
Becca says
Awh, I love this Lynn!! Thank you for commenting, and I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Sarah says
When you make this in the slow cooker, do you cook the pasta first?
Becca says
I do not!
Sarah says
Hi there! I just entered the recipe into my WW app so that it would be easier for me to track and reuse in the future. I entered it exactly as written (no substitutions) at 6 servings it comes out to 9sp, not 7! If I changed the number of servings to 8, it changed down to 7sp, but I was disappointed by the substantial difference. Did I do something wrong? What brands did you use? The Parmesan and the whole wheat pasta (barilla brand) were the biggest point value. I just know that for some people 2sp makes all the difference. (Tastes great, though!)
Becca says
Hey Sarah! I entered it the same way I wrote it, with the same amount of servings as the recipe states. I used barilla whole wheat pasta and the parmesan was fresh from the deli area of my store. This is definitely why I always say to make sure to calculate your own as well, not sure what happened this time though! <3
Darleen says
I made this dish in my instant pot. The flavor was good but mine turned out way too saucy which turned it into a thick and mushy blob. Next time I’ll reduce the amount of yogurt & cottage cheese “sauce”.
Becca says
Hi Darleen, I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you. I’m wondering if the non fat dairy made it a little watery? Please let me know after you try again, I’d love to know if it works for you.
Judy says
I just made this recipe and it was awesome!!! I didn’t quite cover the pasta with the broth and it was super! Pasta was perfect. I added a tad more salt and pepper and some crushed red pepper flakes for spice.
(By the way, I take a big bottle of red pepper flakes….put it in my Nutribullet….and grind it up a bit. Because I don’t like biting into one hot piece of pepper). No one could tell this is a light recipe either! I don’t like cottage cheese at all and you can’t even tell it’s in here!
Love, love!