Pesto Pasta is already a staple in most homes. Ramp this up a notch by adding chicken and low fat cream cheese and you have an awesome carb-loaded meal for the night before a big match. This is my teenager’s routine before every game.

Ingredients

Makes 1 portion for your rugby playing teen (as seen in the picture):

• 1.5 cups dried pasta (fusilli or penne work well)
• 1 chicken breast (I use 2 breasts in pre-season for muscle recovery)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoky paprika
• salt & pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons Pesto (out of the jar is fine)
• 4 heaped tablespoons light cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons pasta water
• 1/2 teaspoon light olive oil

Method

Boil your water and cook pasta according to packet instructions.

While pasta is cooking, prepare the chicken.

Heat a non-stick frying pan to a high heat and add olive oil.

Cut your chicken into 5cm chunks, and add to the pan.

While frying, add the garlic, paprika, salt and pepper.

Cooks quite fast, usually ready in 5-6 minutes.

For super juicy and soft chicken, take it off the heat just before it’s ready. It will continue to cook while resting and until pasta is done.

Reserve 2 tablespoons of pasta water to use in your sauce, drain the rest of the water from your pasta and in a bowl mix the drained pasta with the chicken, pesto, pasta water and cream cheese.

Tip: This is best eaten immediately. If you are cooking in advance and your teen is warming this up after returning from training late at night, add milk to loosen everything when you’re warming up.