Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake #kalepasta

Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake is a creamy and delicious blend of pasta, kale and broccoli baked to perfection with Italian seasoning. Perfect weeknight dinner

Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake

My Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight menu or just when you want a comforting yet slightly healthier meal.

Also, when you have literally and I mean Literally binged the whole weekend with your favorite drinks, desserts, meats, etc.

That’s exactly when this Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake comes to your rescue and we must have made this recipe endless times !!

Now, if you’re thinking what’s so new about this pasta bake:

First it’s a lighter version than our regular cheesy pasta bakes.

Second, the sauce contains cashew powder which gives it a creamy and delicious flavor.

Trust me ‘cashew powder’ is a magical thing, add it to whatever recipe you want (smoothies/ curry/bakes/).

The cashew powder gives this rich creamy taste without adding many calories.

Which I feel is truly Awesome!

Ingredients for Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake

2 Cups Macaroni Pasta
5 Cups Water
1/4 Tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Olive Oi

For the Kale Broccoli Mix:
1 Medium Onion
1 Cup Broccoli
1/2 Cup Kale
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
3 Tbsp Cashew Powder
1/4 Cup Cheese
1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Tbsp Red Chili Flakes – optional
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning – optional

— White Sauce Ingredients —
4 Tbsp White Flour
2 Tsp Vegetable Oil
1 Tbsp Butter – unsalted
1/2 Cup Water
Salt – as per taste
Pepper – as per taste

 

quick-and-skinny-broccoli-kale-pasta-bake

The best part is you can make the cashew powder at home.

Just grind a handful of raw or roasted (saltless) cashews together and here you go.

You are ready with a 100% natural ingredient that is super yum and you can pop it into an air-tight jar for later use too.

For this Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake, I made a lighter version of white sauce (also known as ‘roux’ in the culinary world) at home and it’s super simple.

All I did was use half vegetable oil and half butter to make the sauce (which cuts down the calorie instead of using all butter).

quick-and-broccoli-pasta-bake

 

Process for Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake

If you’ are not a fan of kale or if it’s not easily available, you may use spinach or any other leafy vegetables of choice.

At time’s when I know that the next day is going to be extremely hectic (you can call crazy too), I usually follow these steps and prep night before:

  1. Boil the pasta, add some olive oil (so they don’t stick) and keep in an air-tight container in the fridge.
  2. I saute the broccoli-kale mix a night before and keep in an air-tight jar.
  3. Also, try making the white sauce beforehand (you can keep it for 2-3 days in the fridge).

Now, if I’ve followed all the above steps, dinner becomes a breeze as all I’ve to do is mix everything together.

Sprinkle some homemade or store-bought bread crumbs (for that extra crunch and texture) and bake for 15 minutes at 190F.

In those 15 minutes that the pasta is baking, you can take a quick shower/change or simply unwind.

As your dinner is ready which includes delicious greens, nuts and packed with fantastic flavors.

 

Give this Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake a try this week and enjoy it with family.

 

Until next time ~ XoXo

—————

Tried Our Recipe – AWESOME!!!

Now Quickly SNAP A PICTURE & TAG :

#easycookingwithmolly +  @easycookingwithmolly on Instagram –>

Connect with Me Here:  Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram 

 

Quick & Skinny Broccoli-Kale Pasta Bake :(Weeknight Dinner) : #weeknight #pasta #bake #kale #broccoli

 

:: You May Also Like ::

Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta (Light Recipe using Cauliflower)

Quick Bowtie Pesto Pasta with Zucchini and Peas (Video Recipe)

Skinny Cauliflower Pasta Bake (Healthy)

Cheesy Curried Cauliflower Pasta  

 

Yield: 4 People

Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake

quick-and-skinny-broccoli-kale-pasta-bake-weeknight-dinner

Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake is a creamy and delicious blend of pasta, kale and broccoli baked to perfection with Italian seasoning. Perfect weeknight dinner

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

For Boiling Pasta:

  • 2 Cups Macaroni Pasta
  • 5 Cups Water
  • 1/4 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oi

For the Kale Broccoli Mix:

  • 1 Medium Onion
  • 1 Cup Broccoli
  • 1/2 Cup Kale
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 3 Tbsp Cashew Powder
  • 1/4 Cup Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs
  • 1 Tbsp Red Chili Flakes - optional
  • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning - optional

--- White Sauce Ingredients ---

  • 4 Tbsp White Flour
  • 2 Tsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Butter - unsalted
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • Salt - as per taste
  • Pepper - as per taste

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta as per package directions (I used 5 cups water for 2 cups pasta)

---- Make the White Sauce or Roux ---

  1. In a non-stick pan, heat vegetable oil and butter together.
  2. Add the flour and saute over medium to light flame till the flour turns golden in color (take about 3 minutes).
  3. Add salt, pepper, water and saute everything to form a thick sauce.
  4. Turn off the heat.

Saute Everything:

  1. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pan.
  2. Add chopped onions and saute till golden in color.
  3. Now add, broccoli and saute for 2 minutes.
  4. Add the kale, salt, seasoning and saute for another minute (kale cooks really fasts).
  5. Now, add the cooked pasta and saute everything to mix the greens with pasta.
  6. Add the white sauce, cheese, chili flakes, cashew powder, saute and cook for 2 minutes.
  7. Transfer the cooked pasta and greens to a buttered baking tray.
  8. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and some cheese.
  9. Bake at 190F for 15 minutes.
  10. Serve Hot.

Notes

Cheese - I'm using reduced-fat parmesan

Bread Crumbs - homemade or store-bought

Broccoli - you may use fresh or frozen

Kale - you may use fresh or frozen

Vegetable Oil - you may use any lighter oil

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 428Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 577mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 11g

 

30 Replies to "Skinny Broccoli Kale Pasta Bake #kalepasta"

  • Mel @ avirtualvegan.com June 15, 2016 (2:36 am)

    This pasta bake sounds really delicious. I love the added greens in it!

  • Lucie June 10, 2016 (8:01 pm)

    This looks so delicious! Perfect healthy comfort food 🙂

  • Kelly June 8, 2016 (11:09 pm)

    I love the addition of the green veggies in here. I bet kids wouldn’t even notice – or picky adults. I’ll take it all!

    • Molly Kumar June 10, 2016 (2:55 am)

      Hahhaha, that’s the fun part of this dish that no-one gets to know what we can sneak in it 😉 Thanks for visiting Kelly.

  • Anjali June 8, 2016 (4:17 pm)

    This sounds wonderful! Have yet to add kale to any baked pasta dish. And cashew powder! Is that simply finely grounded cashews? This sounds lovely!

    • Molly Kumar June 10, 2016 (2:58 am)

      Thanks Anjali. Yes, this was homemade cashew powder made by simply grinding raw cashews 🙂

  • Nicole June 8, 2016 (3:10 pm)

    I really wish we could do cashews in our home,,,it looks so tasty!

  • Uma June 8, 2016 (3:54 am)

    Adding kale is the best choice! Loved it. 🙂

    • Molly Kumar June 8, 2016 (4:55 am)

      Thanks Uma, it sure does taste delicious 🙂

  • Donna June 8, 2016 (2:32 am)

    Oh yum, this sounds like some awesome comfort food. I am totally with you on the weeknight dinner stress 🙂

  • Linda @ Veganosity June 7, 2016 (12:30 pm)

    This looks so good! I’m all about easy and quick meals that taste and look good. You nailed it!

  • Jenn June 7, 2016 (1:27 am)

    Yes, always stressing about it! This looks like a winner and my kids would love it too!

  • Evi June 6, 2016 (10:15 pm)

    This looks delicious! I love how quick the recipe is.

  • Beth @ Binky's Culinary Carnival June 6, 2016 (7:10 pm)

    Looks divine! I love using cashew milk because it adds a great creaminess but haven’t tried cashew powder! Great idea!

    • Molly Kumar June 8, 2016 (5:35 am)

      Thanks Beth, you should try pasta with cashew powder next time, it just adds so much creamy texture!

  • Lisa June 6, 2016 (6:54 pm)

    Looks delicious! Maybe I could get picky eaters to eat vegetables this way! ?

    • Molly Kumar June 8, 2016 (5:36 am)

      That would be a great way to feed the picky eaters 😉 Thanks for visiting Lisa.

  • Lucy June 6, 2016 (6:41 pm)

    This looks like the perfect one-dish healthy weeknight dinner. Love the cashew powder! I have a bag of cashews in my pantry so I’m definitely going to try it soon!

    • Molly Kumar June 8, 2016 (5:38 am)

      Thanks Lucy, do give it a try soon 🙂

  • Vicky @ Avocado Pesto June 6, 2016 (6:31 pm)

    Perfect weeknight dinner. Love the addition of cashew powder. Have pulsed nuts before to make a vegan Parmesan cheese but love the idea of just adding cashew powder to dishes for an even more flavorful meal! Yummed!

    • Molly Kumar June 8, 2016 (5:49 am)

      Try this version, you’d love it Vicky – Thanks for visiting !!

  • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine June 6, 2016 (6:17 pm)

    Always gotta add some kale! What a nice easy dinner!

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published.

Skip to Recipe