Trader Joe's Pesto Hearts of Palm Pasta:

Lee Baxter
Nov 11, 2024
4 min read

Cals: 443 Protein: 27.2 Carbs: 10.2 Fiber: 4.2 Fats: 31.8 40 mins

Pesto Hearts of Palm Pasta is a quick and easy lightened up vegetable pasta dinner using ingredients from Trader Joes!

With the holidays approaching you may be looking for some lighter meals that are still comforting to put into your week night dinner rotation. Look no further than Trader Joe's Pesto Hearts of Palm Pasta! This recipe uses Trader Joe's Hearts of Palm Pasta to reduce carbs, Increase fiber and still have a filling, warm pasta dish for dinner!

Hearts of palm pasta Is a healthy alternative to traditional pastas! It is much lower in calories and it is ready in minutes because it just has to be heated up - no boiling necessary! Hearts of palm is a good source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, supports gut health, and helps control blood sugar levels by slowing carbohydrate absorption. Hearts of palm contains vitamins like vitamin C and folate, and minerals such as potassium, calcium, and iron. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure, while calcium and iron contribute to bone and blood health. It also has a mild flavor so you can try hearts of palm with any of your favorite pasta sauces!

The Spicy Italian Chicken sausage from Trader Joe's gives this dish so much flavor and spice. They also make a Sweet Italian Chicken sausage for those who do not want spice. You can customize this dish to your liking with different roasted vegetables and different sauces. I used Trader Joe's Vegan Kale Cashew & Basil Pesto but marinara sauce would taste great as well. The pesto does make this recipe higher in calories from fat but it is healthy fat from plant based sources - olive oil and cashews.

Trader Joe's hearts of palm pasta, vegan kale cashew and basil pesto, spicy italian chicken sausage, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, onion — Ingredients for Trader Joe's Pesto Hearts of Palm Pasta

List of Ingredients

1 box Trader Joe's Hearts of Palm Pasta
1/2 cup Trader Joe's Vegan Kale Cashew & Basil Pesto
Trader Joe's Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage
10 oz Cremini mushrooms - sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup red onion, diced
2 tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tsp
Optional: grated parmesan or pecorino for sprinkling
Optional: crushed red pepper flakes for more spice

I used all ingredients from Trader Joe's but you can easily find other brands of Hearts of Palm Pasta and other Italian chicken sausage at Publix, Walmart and other grocery stores. You can use homemade pesto or use other store bought pesto. This meal is gluten free and dairy free without the cheese topping. You can make this meal vegetarian and vegan by leaving out the Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage, or can be easily substituted with a vegetarian sausage.

Step 1: Preheat your oven and chop your vegetables

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Chop all of your vegetables. Feel free to mix up your roasted vegetables in this dish! Red or green bell peppers, zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower would all be great additions or substitutions. You can use whatever you have on hand. Pesto pairs well with so many things! Place your chopped vegetables on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 1-2 tbsp of olive oil, depending on how many vegetables you are using (you can use less oil If you are using less vegetables). Mix well with your hands to make sure all vegetables are evenly covered with oil. Roast vegetables for 30 mins or until they reach your desired doneness.

Mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, red onion — Roast your choice of vegetables for your pasta. I chose mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and red onion!

Step 2: Remove casing and brown chicken sausage

While vegetables roast you will prepare the chicken sausage. You need to remove the casing from the chicken sausage. A pairing knife works best. Once casings are removed, cut the chicken sausage links into quarter rounds. Add the cut chicken sausage to a skillet by itself to slightly brown the chicken sausage. It is already fully cooked but you will want to brown it on it's own since it will not brown much once it is added to the dish. Once the chicken sausage has reached your desired brownness remove from heat and set aside until step four.

Step 3: Strain and heat Hearts of Palm Pasta

Remove hearts of palm from pasta and strain excess liquid in colander in the sink. Put noodles in skillet and bring to medium heat. Add 1 tsp olive oil and mix with noodles. Separate noodles with a fork. Make sure noodles are heated through.

Step 4: Combine all ingredients and heat

In the hot skillet with the hearts of palm noodles, combined 1/2 cup Vegan Pesto, chicken sausage and roasted vegetables. When all ingredients are combined and heated you are ready to serve! You can top your pasta with grated parmesan, crushed red pepper, fresh chopped basil leaves - whatever you would like! I like topping with crushed red pepper and fresh herbs because it adds more flavor without adding additional sodium or calories.

Nutrition Facts:

Yield: 3 servings

Calories: 443

Fat: 31.8 g

Carbs: 10.2 g

Fiber: 4.2 g

Sugar: 4.3 g

Protein: 27.2 g

Sodium: 954.4 mg

Extra cheese for topping Is not included in calorie count.

Try Trader Joe's Pesto Hearts of Palm Pasta and let me know what you think!

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Leave a comment if you made this recipe and share the ingredients you used in your hearts of palm pasta! If you enjoyed this recipe follow Lee Baxter Nutrition on instagram, facebook and this blog for healthy recipes!