High Protein Cannelloni Bake
Imported from Instagram
30 minEasy4 servings

High Protein Cannelloni Bake

A quick and easy high-protein version of a classic cannelloni bake, filled with chicken and light mozzarella, covered in a creamy tomato sauce and topped with cheese.

Mise turned a cooking video on Instagram into this written step-by-step recipe — 11 ingredients, 5 steps, 30 min, with a generated photo for every step.

Cook step-by-step in Mise → Free · iPhone
Time30min
LevelEasy
Servings4
Method 5 steps
01

Fill half of the cannelloni tubes with chopped chicken breast and the other half with light mozzarella. Place them side-by-side in a baking dish.

02

For the sauce, mix the chopped tomatoes, light cream, salt, pepper, sweet paprika powder, and tomato seasoning in a bowl.

03

Pour the tomato sauce evenly over the cannelloni in the baking dish.

04

Top the dish with Parmesan and light gratin cheese.

05

Bake in the oven at 180°C (convection) for about 20 minutes until the cheese is nice and golden brown.

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Notes

Cannelloni offers a satisfying way to enjoy pasta with a focused ratio of filling to noodle. This version relies on a streamlined technique of stuffing dry tubes with solid pieces of chicken and mozzarella rather than the traditional soft ricotta mixture. The process ensures the pasta maintains a firm structure while the light cream and tomato sauce hydrate the noodles during the bake. The result is a substantial dinner that avoids the heaviness usually associated with cheesy pasta bakes.

This dish works well for weeknight meals because it reaches the table in half an hour. Expect a golden cheese crust on top with a balanced interior where the chicken provides texture against the melted mozzarella. The sauce remains bright and acidic, cutting through the richness of the three types of cheese used in the topping and filling.

Before you start

  • When filling the tubes in step one, cut the chicken into small uniform strips to ensure they fit snugly without cracking the dry pasta shells.
  • Ensure the sauce completely covers every part of the cannelloni in the baking dish; any exposed pasta will remain hard and crunchy after baking.
  • Check the bake at fifteen minutes to see if the cheese is browning too quickly. If it looks dark, cover the dish loosely with foil.
  • Let the dish rest for five minutes after removing it from the oven to allow the sauce to thicken and the cheese to set.

Swaps that work

  • Replace light mozzarella with the same amount of low-fat feta for a sharper, saltier flavor profile and a firmer texture.
  • Substitute the light cream with thirty milliliters of plain greek yogurt for a tangier sauce that has a thicker consistency.
  • Exchange the chopped tomatoes for an equal amount of passata if you prefer a smoother sauce without any vegetable chunks.

Keeping it

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat in an oven at 160C covered with foil to prevent the pasta from drying out further. This dish does not freeze well because the light dairy components in the sauce and the mozzarella filling tend to separate and become watery upon thawing. For the best texture and flavor, consume the bake immediately after its initial rest period.

Questions

Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?

You can assemble the tubes and sauce a few hours early, but do not combine them until you are ready to bake. If the dry pasta sits in the sauce for too long before entering the oven, it will become mushy and lose its structural integrity.

Why did my pasta come out tough or chewy?

Tough pasta usually occurs if there was not enough moisture to hydrate the tubes. Ensure the tomato and cream mixture is liquid enough to be absorbed, and check that every inch of the cannelloni is submerged or well-coated before putting the dish into the oven.

Is this version of the bake spicy?

The recipe uses sweet paprika and tomato seasoning, which provide warmth and depth rather than heat. If you prefer a spicy kick, add half a teaspoon of dried red chili flakes to the sauce mixture in step two before pouring it over the pasta.

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BrowseDinner 466Italian 115Comfort Food 688Quick 344
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