Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta
When you have a refrigerator full of leftovers and you’re not sure what to do with them, pasta dishes are always a great option! For this dish I’m throwing in some leftover chicken, broccoli, and other veggies I’ve got sitting in the fridge.
For nights when you don’t want to cook a lot of dishes and get a lot of pans dirty, meals like this are perfect! One pot meals have certainly become one of my favorite to make. Quick to make and quick to clean up! I load up this pasta with lots of protein and veggies so you’ve got all your food groups covered in one hearty dish.
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup sliced onion
- 1 head chopped broccoli
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 container (2 cups) cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 tsp basil
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper (we like it spice, you can reduce or omit)
- 1/2 tsp seasoning salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- salt + pepper to taste
- 1 jar tomato sauce (12-16.9 oz)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I like aged extra sharp)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half & half
- 1-2 handfuls fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (optional)
- Gluten free penne pasta
- 1/4 tsp parsley
Directions:
1. Heat 1 medium saute pan and 1 large saute pan or wok on medium heat with 1 tbsp avocado oil in each. Also fill large pot with water for pasta, turn to medium high.
2. Add chicken to large pan, garlic to medium sized pan.
3. Season chicken with seasoning salt.
4.(optional) Sprinkle crushed red pepper on both garlic & chicken. Sprinkle some basil on chicken.
5. Add tomatoes to garlic, let saute for 3 mins.
6. Add tomato sauce to tomatoes and garlic, turn to low to simmer.
7. Add onions to chicken.
8. Add additional basil, garlic salt, and garlic powder to sauce.
9. Add broccoli to chicken. Saute, cover, and let steam for 3-5 minutes.
10. Transfer sauce to chicken, stir to combine, turn heat to low to simmer.
11. Add pasta to boiling water (if using penne, use 1/2 box)
12. While pasta is cooking; add cream, cheese, additional spices to taste, spinach, and basil to sauce. Keep heat on low to ensure cream does not curdle.
13. Follow directions on pasta label for recommended cooking time, when pasta is al dente remove from heat and strain. Add to sauce mixture.
14. Top with additional grated cheese and parsley.
Servings: 4
Enjoy!
