Low-cal/Low-fat Cheesy Chicken Bowl
That whole Winter Storm Jonas thing really got me craving warm, cheesy comfort foods — which is kinda weird considering I don’t really eat cheese? I’m particular about what cheese i’ll eat. Cottage cheese is a favorite along with kraft cheesy shells from the box HA. So basically super healthy and super unhealthy cheese from a bag. But whatever.
If you know me you know my love for red sauce. And that it’s literally ALWAYS in my pantry/fridge. This week I have been living off of this cheesy, chicken, spinach rice bowl concoction. As usual, the recipe was a product of my laziness and my avoidance of the grocery store. Basically I already had all these things in my kitchen so hopefully you will, too:)
I love the consistency of cream sauces, but it’s not worth all the calories and fat to me. Last summer I discovered the beauty of adding cottage cheese to my red sauce. My mom makes lasagna with cottage cheese so I figured why not try it? And oh myyyyy goodness it’s wonderful. And healthy 😉 It creates a protein based sauce for those days I wanna go meatless or just don’t have any handy.
This recipe takes a total of about ten minutes to make. I used minute rice, so I suppose yours could take longer. Either way it’s not a big time commitment. It’s also designed to serve one, so if you have guests just multiply everything by the number of people.
keep warm xx elizabeth
+ Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Rice (Dry)
- 1/4 Cup Low-Fat Cottage Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Pasta Sauce
- 2 Cups Spinach
- 4 oz. Shredded Chicken
- 1/8 Cup Kidney or Black Beans
- Red Pepper Flakes (as preferred)
- Dash of Salt
— Calorie Count: Approximately 380 Calories.
+ Directions
- Boil rice as directed on box.
- In a sautee pan, cook spinach in red sauce and red pepper flakes for 3-4 minutes.
- Add cottage cheese and cook until melted into red sauce.
- Add beans, chicken and rice to sauté pan.
- Serve and enjoy!
This looks really easy and delicious!
This looks super yummy. I love that it has less calories as well. Im all down for this!
Thank you, Hannah!
Omg now this is some food porn if I don’t say so myself!!! Definitely pinning so I can give your recipe a try! Yummy 🙂
Haha! Thank you!! Let me know how you like it 🙂
You had me at easy and you would have my kids at chicken and cheese. Win win!
Haha it’s rare when recipes are parent and kid friendly!
Yum! I’m always looking for easy and healthy recipes to try!
Me too girl!
This sounds absolutely amazing! I am trying really hard to watch what I eat and this sounds perfect!
I’m glad I could help out! 🙂
looks like it tastes really good. i love quick and healthy meals. anything with cottage cheese; mmmmm.
Girl I LIVE on cottage cheese. I’m glad we share the same love for it. Haha.
That looks so tasty! I love that this is easy to make.
Thank you! It’s a breeze!
Sounds great to me. I have come up with some of my best and most favorite dishes when I was lazy and just did not want to go out! This looks wonderful and you know I think I have all of these things in my pantry/fridge!
Same here! I’d love to hear some of your lazy concoctions!
That looks really good. I bet my family would like it.
Give it a try and let me know 🙂
What a great idea, I love the sound of cottage cheese added to the red sauce instead of cream – delicious! I had an amazing sauce last night with gorgonzola and red sauce, but I would never have thought about subbing with cottage – will be trying for sure!
It’s seriously so good! I wish I had thought of it years ago! But mmm gorgonzola and red sauce sounds delicious, too!
Yum! This look delicious! And we love low-fat recipes in our house! We’ll have to try this soon!
Such a delicious dish and so healthy and easy to make too!
Yes — it’s a breeze!
Looks like a healthy dish that is comforting too. That’s hard to find. My son might like it too.
It’s so rare to find healthy comfort foods! I hope he does!
This recipe sounds so good! It is perfect for cooler weather. It’s been warm here but the cooler temps are on the way. I’ll have to try this!
It’s been flurrying here in Alabama all morning! I’m jealous you’re somewhere warm!
This looks like great comfort food. I have re-blogged this post
Thanks so much! I appreciate it 🙂
Oh my gosh I need a bowl of that cheesy chicken bowl in my life ASAP! Looks so delicous
What a great little dish! I love the addition of the spinach and the beans!! YUM!
Gotta sneak a veggie in somehow!
My boyfriend would LOVE this! I feel like you could do it in a crock pot as well! Have you ever tried it that way?
I’m going to try that recipe – I mean it looks delicious, it doesn’t take forever to make and it’s low carb as well! 😀
Exactly! Let me know what you think!
I had not thought of adding cottage cheese to a red sauce, but it makes total sense, and sounds delicious. Thank you for suggesting it. This dish looks really tasty
I wish I had thought of it sooner! haha. Thank you!
I love your recipe. I follow similar food philosophy. never using cottage cheese. usually low-fat or fat-free ricotta, I have to try the cottage cheese
I’ll have to give ricotta a try! Hope you like it 🙂
Ooo… Yum! This recipe sounds fabulous! I would love to try it!!!!
Thank you! You totally should!!
Easy. Chicken. Cheese. What more could a gal ask for?? I will definitely have to give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!
Haha my thought process exactly! Thank you!
This looks like a delicious comfort food for sure! It has many of my favorite things already!
Healthy comfort foods are the BEST. Thank you!
This looks delicious. Almost like healthy comfort food. I love anything that marries chicken with cream cheese. It just always works out for a win in my book!
I think I have a new recipie for the house!! Yummy!!!
This looks delicious! I had a friend growing up who’s mom would make lasagna with cottage cheese, I don’t know why I never use cottage cheese for anything, but I should! This looks very comforting and delicious 🙂
Lasagna with cottage cheese is sooo good! Thank you, Heather!
this sounds like a great meal for when the weather outside isn’t that great. it sounds like it would warm me right up
This just doesn’t even look like it should be low cal/fat. It looks too good to be true… so I’m def going to share this with my friends.
I love simple meals like this. Sounds delicious!
That looks yum-tastic! Yep, just made that word up lol But I’m gonna have to try this. I don’t like cottage cheese, but I think I could handle it this way.
The taste of cottage cheese is totally disguised! It just makes it creamy 🙂
I love the idea of adding cottage cheese to get the creaminess without the calories! I will definitely be trying this! Great recipe!
Thanks so much! Let me know what you think!
Oh, low fat and cheese sounds even more delicious. Can’t wait to try this.
Hey wait a minute…I know those recipe cards! I got a set of them when I graduated high school!They went with a matching binder that I have seemed to have misplaced along the years. LOL!!
Mmm..yum! Looks delicious and how simple to prepare it. This kind of food is really fit for winter.
Sounds like a great recipe to try because I happen to have all of these ingredients on hand!!
I’m feeling a need to crave a food right now, seeing your recipe..lol. It looks delicious, and how easy to prepare it.
This looks awesome! I’d love to sit in my couch, turn on the tv and eat a bowl
You are making me hungry! Anything cheesy AND low cal and I’m in!
That looks SO delicious. Another plus would be that it’s not expensive.
This sounds like an excellent recipe and certainly more calories than you mention! Love when food looks yummy while being healthy.
This looks absolutely delicious. I’m excited about trying this one out.
Great recipe! Easy peasy and healthy.
It looks very delicious and easy to make! It is also great that it is low calories
http://siniciliya.com/
Yummy looking!
My family would love this recipe and I love how easy it is to make. Win win!
That looks so tasty. I love cottage cheese and i’m sure it made this chicken dish tastier. This is a must try.
This looks like a delicious and simple dinner to have during the week!
this looks like my kind of meal. i love chicken plus it looks super easy to make
It’s super simple to make! I’m a big fan of chicken myself 🙂
You just said to of my favorite things together. Low fat and cheesy! I am going to have to try this soon!
Haha doesn’t seem possible that the words can go together, but it’s true!
Wow this looks so yummy! Looks like it’s rather easy to make too.
It’s way too simple! Thank you!
This looks so healthy! And easy! I’m all about one pot dinners!
Same here! Dirty dishes are the enemy haha.
Thank you for this recipe! I have to eat a low fat diet, so it’s always good to see a low-fat recipe that includes cheese!
You’re so welcome! If you enjoy cottage cheese, it’s a great option!
This will make a great workday lunch. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Of course! Glad you enjoyed!
Love this! Can’t wait to try this recipe this week!
Thank you, Rae! Let me know what you think!
What a great post! Love the meal idea and can’t wait to try it 🙂 I too try to avoid the grocery store as much as possible! I’m fine for the most part once I’m there….it’s just the actual getting up and going part LOL! Thanks for sharing!!
Haha I completely understand that! If I don’t stop on my way home from work it’s not likely I’ll be going at all that day. Thank you!
I am a vegetarian but even I can appreciate how amazing this sounds! I would use Quorn chicken instead as I am a veggie but this does sound perfect.
I’ve never tried Quorn Chicken. I’ll have to look into it. You could just top it with veggies, too. Cottage cheese already has so much protein!
I agree with you. Cream sauce is so fattening. I’d rather save the calories and drink some wine.
Hahaha I 100% agree with that statement! Or save it for dessert.
This looks absolutely divine! I find cream sauce too heavy, I also prefer red. Thanks for sharing!
Euriental
Thank you! Glad we agree 🙂
Love cooking with cottage cheese! At first I thought it was a little strange but we added it to our pancakes one day and they were so delicious. Can’t wait to try this recipe out!
Oh my! What’s the recipe for those pancakes? I’d love to try them!
This is so perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner!Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Exactly! I don’t have much time after work to cook so it’s perfect.
I’m not a cottage cheese person, but those pictures make it all look so appetizing! I’m sure that the amazing flavors hide it anyway 🙂 I’ll have to write this one down and give it a try sometime!
This dish might convert you into a cottage cheese fan 😉
this looks sooo good! I’m snowed in today and am seriously considering this for my dinner! Thanks for sharing!
If you have all the ingredients on hand you totally should!
Loved, and the pictures of the posts are great!<3www.malusilva.com.br
Thank you! Still working on my photography!
That sounds so good. I love easy meals like this and I love that it’s a healthy option for dinner.
Easy and healthy are what i’m always searching for, too 🙂