🌱 One-Pot Protein Pasta with White Beans & Ricotta

One-Pot Protein Pasta with White Beans & Ricotta

Calories: 580

Protein: 38 g

Prep: 5 mins  |  Cook Time: 20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • Chickpea or lentil pasta (dry) 320g / 11.3 oz / 3 cups

  • White beans / cannellini (canned, drained) 480g / 17 oz / 2 cans

  • Whole milk ricotta 240g / 8.5 oz / 1 cup

  • Parmesan (grated) 60g / 2.1 oz / ¾ cup

  • Vegetable broth (low sodium) 1L / 34 fl oz / 4 cups

  • Baby spinach 90g / 3.2 oz / 3 cups

  • Garlic cloves (minced) 15g / 0.5 oz / 4 cloves

  • Yellow onion (diced) 120g / 4.2 oz / 1 medium

  • Olive oil 15ml / 0.5 fl oz / 1 Tbsp

  • Dried basil 1½ tsp

  • Dried oregano 1 tsp

  • Nutmeg (pinch) pinch

  • Lemon (juiced) ½ lemon

  • Salt & pepper to taste

 

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion 4–5 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.

2. Add dry pasta and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat to medium. Cook pasta according to package directions (8–11 min for most legume pastas), stirring frequently. Add more broth or water if needed.

4. When pasta is just al dente and most liquid absorbed, stir in white beans, basil, oregano, and nutmeg. Cook 2 minutes.

5. Remove from heat. Stir in spinach until wilted. Add lemon juice and half the parmesan. Season generously with salt and pepper.

6. Serve in bowls topped with a generous dollop of ricotta and remaining parmesan.

 

Meal Prep Instructions

  • Batch Cook: Cook the full pot and divide into 4 containers. Keep ricotta in a separate small container per meal so it stays fresh and creamy rather than mixing into the pasta.

  • Assemble Ahead (Option 1): Store pasta and beans in containers up to 4 days. Refrigerate ricotta separately. Reheat pasta 2–3 min in the microwave, then top with ricotta cold or warmed.

  • Freeze for Later (Option 2): Freeze for Later: Freeze pasta and bean base (no ricotta) up to 2 months. Thaw overnight, reheat with a splash of broth, and add a fresh dollop of ricotta when serving.

Dinner, Vegetarian OptionTameika Gentles