This Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a delicious and easy weeknight meal that your entire family will love! I’ve altered this popular dish to be a healthy, WW recipe without sacrificing the creamy and indulgent pasta dish.
While my go to method is the Instant Pot, I’ve included alternate instructions on how to cook this meal in the Crockpot and stove top. Below you will also find the Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints and what products I used to get them. As an added bonus, I have links below for other Weight Watchers Freestyle recipes that are equally delicious.
Being health conscience, I get nervous with pasta dishes. Traditionally they are incredibly high in carbohydrates and it’s so easy to go off the rails when cravings strike. However with this guilt free creamy recipe, you can indulge your craving without blowing your whole days’ worth of points!
How many Freestyle SmartPoints are in this Weight Watchers Tuscan chicken pasta and how did you calculate it?
My first question is always “how many points” so let’s take a look at this tasty recipe and see how many Freestyle SmartPoints you have to give up to indulge! This recipe makes 6 equal servings (approximately 1 1/2C servings). Each serving counts as 7 Weight Watchers Freestyle Points. Divide the recipe into 6 equal servings for your most accurate portion size.
To calculate Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints 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.
Please note that I do my best to provide an accurate count for all my Weight Watchers recipes. Product substitutions will change the point values–even different brands can vary the points. So for the most accurate points count, I recommend you recalculate if you make any changes or have questions and concerns.
Can I change the number of servings?
Yes! In the printable recipe below, find the serving size and slide to adjust as needed. Next time you come to the recipe; the serving size will go back to the default so be sure to change it each time you visit.
What kind of ingredients do I use for Weight Watchers Freestyle recipes?
For this Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe I used boneless skinless chicken breast, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, fat free cottage cheese, and fat free plain Greek yogurt.
Using the fat free ingredients is up to you, but these are what I used in the 7-point calculation above. For a more creamy sauce, you can use a higher fat content cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, but this will increase the point count.
Do you have more Weight Watchers dinner recipes?
You bet! There are a ton of delicious recipes here at My Crazy Good Life–Weight Watchers Instant Pot recipes, Crock pot recipes, and even traditional recipes.
- Southwest Egg Roll in a Bowl with Chicken
- Veggie Packed Goulash
- Swedish Meatballs
- Cajun Chicken Alfredo
- Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
- Philly Cheesesteak Pasta with Chicken
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- White Chicken Chili
Ingredients in Tuscan Chicken Pasta:
- chicken broth
- sun-dried tomatoes
- Italian seasoning
- minced garlic (or garlic powder in a pinch)!
- chicken breast (diced into 1-inch cubes)
- whole wheat noodles
- baby spinach
- Greek Yogurt
- cottage cheese
- parmesan
- basil
- salt
- pepper
How to cook this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe:
Pin this Tuscan Chicken Recipe for later!
Instant Pot Directions:
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. Really?
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.
Weight Watchers Crockpot Tuscan Chicken Directions:
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. Add some olive oil to keep the ingredients from sticking.
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) Remove the chicken from the skillet, and add both 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.
Stovetop Directions:
1) In a large skillet over medium high heat, 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 and cook the chicken for 1-2 minutes per side. 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 chicken recipe that 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. This Weight Watchers Freestyle Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a great way to meal prep for the week!
Weight Watchers 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.
Julie says
Hello!! I can’t wait to try this recipe! I can’t eat pasta so I’m going to try this with spaghetti squash instead…is the chicken stock really there as a cooking agent for the pasta? Im not great in the kitchen and am trying to figure out how to alter this recipe…thanks!
Becca says
It depends on how you’re cooking it–if you’re using the stovetop follow those directions and use spaghetti squash instead–that would be easiest. In the IP, yes, the chicken broth is there for the pasta.
Catie says
Should we use regular chicken broth or fat free? Haven’t used the fat free before so I’m not sure how big the difference is… But, just wanted to play it safe.
Becca says
I believe I used regular low-sodium chicken broth. Since it’s all showing as 0 points on the WW website I’d stick with that–no need to use fat free if they’re both zero points!
Joann says
This was a good dish. However, I made it in my instant pot exactly how the recipe calls (sans tomatoes cause I couldn’t find them). But I wound up with SO much broth still in my pot when I opened it.
Any advice on why this would have happened!
Becca says
Sorry it didn’t work out for you! What kind of noodles did you use, Joann?
Joann says
I used True Goodness Organic Whole Wheat Pasta (it is a Meijer brand organic). I wasn’t able to find any other brands of whole wheat pasta.
Becca says
Glad you found one!
Shelley says
I only put in enough broth to cover the pasta. It was a little bit watery, but once I put in the cheese, and sauce it started to thicken. It was amazing.
Amie says
This is an amazing dish! I felt like we were eating at a fancy restaurant! Thank you for finding healthy ways to make such delicious meals! ***Bonus*** my three young boys (9,6 and 2) asked for seconds AND we still have some leftovers!!
Thank you!!♥️
Allison Summey says
How do you recommend reheating? I decided to take your advice and I made it earlier in the day to have for dinner but I want to reheat correctly. Thanks!
Becca says
I’d stick it in the microwave or warm it in a large pan on the stove! If it seems to be dry at all, I’d add a few tablespoons of water to it and cover.
Lori says
This was so good! I love how easy it was to make. My family loved it and they actually said they would prefer to not have the cream sauce with it.
Tracy says
Just made this today for my husband who is trying to watch what he eats. I am a very picky eater and although your picture is amazing I was unsure with a couple ingredients if I would eat. OMG amazing, I did the slow cooker version, I have an instant pot I am still not comfortable using it, this is simple, and easy thank you
Becca says
Yay!! I don’t care for the greek yogurt or cottage cheese, but they’re totally different when blended!
Pamela says
Super easy to make and so much flavoring. Will make again.
Linda says
How many points per serving?
Becca says
All of the points and products used to calculate are in the post :)
Sam says
Every one loved it! My husband is very particular about his food. He had 2 servings!
Katie says
Made it in my instant pot! It was delish and my husband and boys loved it! Will definitely be making it again!
Deb Falk says
I just made the stovetop version tonight and it was fantastic!! Thank you for sharing. I kept adding a little extra chicken broth as my noodles were starting to stick to the bottom. I also put the yogurt and cottage cheese in the blender to really blend together, I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to do that or not but it worked great.
Ashley says
I tried this tonight & its DELICIOUS!! However, after inputting all of the numbers that you provided at the bottom of the recipe, the WW app says that one serving ( 1 1/2c) is 8 points.
Becca says
Thanks, Ashley! I input the ingredients into the WW website – I always recommend triple checking the numbers in case you use different brands or fat percentages :)
Allie says
I’m new to instant pot. If I have two frozen chicken breasts can I put those in and then cut them after they cook? Would using frozen chicken change the time at all?
Becca says
Hi Allie! Using frozen chicken doesn’t change the time at all, just make sure they’re not stacked together when you put them in or they’ll stick together and not cook. The only time using frozen meat does not work is when there is another ingredient in the pot that relies on that extra time that it takes frozen food to come to pressure–like dry rice or dry beans.
Sarah says
Hi, is the serving size 1 cup?
Becca says
It’s about 1 1/2 cups – it’s best to divide your total recipe into serving sizes to get the most accurate count!