Creamy pesto chicken pasta for an easy, comforting dinner

This is the bowl I make when I want comfort that's generous with the calories that count. Jarred pesto and a spoonful of ricotta turn plain pasta200 kcal creamy in the time it takes to boil the noodles, and the chicken209 kcal makes it a full dinner. Each serving lands around 720 calories and tastes like more effort than it is.

The richness comes from folding the sauce in off the heat. Pesto, ricotta and a little of the starchy pasta water come together into something glossy that clings to every noodle, so you don't need a big bowl to get a lot from it.

I save the pasta water every time. A splash of it is what turns the ricotta from a clump into a sauce.

Why it works

Pesto and parmesan110 kcal bring the olive-oil richness, the ricotta adds soft calories and protein, and the chicken rounds it into a meal. Pine nuts on top give a little texture for the days you want it, and none on the days you don't.

Make it your own

• Use a rotisserie chicken to skip the cooking step entirely.
• Stir a handful of spinach7 kcal into the warm pasta to wilt it in.
• Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk to bring the sauce back.