Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Pasta

Ingredients

Pasta

227 grams (1/2 lb) pasta of your choice

Chicken

1.5 lb or 4 chicken breasts, pounded to the same height and cut in half lengthwise into long strips

Coarse Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly black ground pepper, to taste

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon paprika, or to taste

Cream Sauce

2-1/2 cups heavy cream

1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped into squares,

or red bell peppers, cut into squares

6 large garlic cloves, minced

1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon chicken concentrate

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Freshly ground nutmeg, to taste

Freshly ground white pepper, to taste

Salt, to taste

To Finish

1 head of broccoli, cut into florets

or 1 cup fresh baby spinach (see directions)

Fresh basil leaves

Directions

Cook pasta in salted water one minute shy of al dente. If using broccoli, stir in the florets and cook until they turn bright green. Drain and set aside.

Place chicken breasts on a cutting board and cover with a piece of plastic wrap. Use a smooth meat mallet or small frying pan to flatten the thick side of the chicken so that it is roughly an even thickness. Cut lengthwise into long pieces.

Place chicken breasts in a 9 x 13" baking dish that will allow the chicken pieces to cook without touching each other.

Sprinkle the chicken breast with salt, freshly crushed black pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Sprinkle just the tops of the chicken since the bottoms will be sitting in the sauce.

In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, cornstarch, chicken bouillon, and crushed red pepper. Add nutmeg, white pepper, and salt to taste. Pour the mixture around the chicken in the baking dish.

Bake for 16-20 minutes, until the breasts reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken portions.

Remove the baking dish from the oven. Transfer the chicken pieces to a separate plate and cover. Transfer the pasta and broccoli florets to the baking dish. Add the spinach or basil and allow to wilt. Transfer the chicken pieces back to th baking dish.

Notes

Inspiration 1

Dinner for Pretzel