Finding a dinner that feels like an indulgence but fits into a fitness-focused lifestyle is the ultimate kitchen win. UK-based nutritionist Scott Baptie has cracked the code, sharing a creamy chorizo pasta recipe that is ‘basically a hug in a bowl’, combining smoky chorizo and lean pork mince with a velvety sauce that defies its modest calorie count. Also read | Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s 5 high protein veg recipes for fitness enthusiasts: South Indian beetroot quinoa pachadi to salad
‘Bonus points: it’s ready in just over half an hour’
Most creamy pasta dishes rely on heavy cream and butter, which can send fat and calorie counts skyrocketing. Scott’s version swaps these for low-fat cream cheese and pasta water, creating a luxurious texture while maintaining high protein.
He wrote in the caption of his July, 2025 post, “Creamy and packed with protein — this pasta is basically a hug in a bowl. We’re talking smoky chorizo, lean pork mince, and a rich, velvety sauce that clings to every bite of rigatoni. Bonus points: it’s ready in just over half an hour. Absolute weeknight winner.”
Here is the step-by-step recipe for creamy chorizo pasta shared by Scott Baptie:
Ingredients
1 tsp olive oil
1 red onion, finely diced
10g garlic, diced
1 stick celery, finely diced
2 small carrots, finely diced
100g chorizo sausage, finely diced
500g 5% pork mince
1 tbsp tomato purée
400g chopped tomatoes
125ml dry red wine
1 tsp mixed herbs
Salt and pepper
50g low-fat cream cheese
25g parmesan, finely grated
300g rigatoni
Method
⦿ Heat some oil in a pan, then fry off your sofrito (fancy name for finely diced onion, celery, and carrot) along with the chorizo. Let that spicy oil work its magic for 5 minutes.
⦿ Stir in the garlic — just enough to make your kitchen smell like an Italian dream.
⦿ Add pork mince and brown it like a pro. Then, in go the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes, red wine, herbs, and seasoning. Let it simmer for 15 minutes while you cook your rigatoni.
⦿ If the sauce thickens too much, splash in some pasta water.
⦿ Finish by stirring in low-fat cream cheese for that ultra-creamy texture. Serve it over the rigatoni, top with parmesan, and boom —you’ve got yourself a masterpiece.
Nutritional info (per serving) and timings
Calories 627
Protein 48g
Carbs 66g
Fat 19g
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Serves: 4
