Chicken Penne Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes

Pasta, pasta, pasta! Who doesn’t love pasta?   Kids and adults alike love pasta.  Do you need a new pasta dish for your family? Add this Chicken Penne Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes to your family’s weekly meal plan.  You won’t believe how delicious and easy it is to make.  Swimming in a creamy, cheesy sauce with pasta and thick pieces of juicy seasoned chicken is sure to become a family favorite.

The flavor from the chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, spinach, and spices will dance in your mouth.  What an awesome dish to have to add to the family’s meal rotation.

How Easy Is This Dish to Make?

The question is, how easy is this dish to make? Well, the answer is Chicken Penne Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes is really pretty easy to make.  In addition, the pasta can be ready in less than 40 minutes.  Therefore, with a little planning and prep, this dish could be on the table in even less time.  I realize that weekdays can be a hectic time for most busy families.  With work, school, sports activities finding a delicious meal the whole family would like is at the top of the family’s agenda.

Sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, pepper, and sauté chicken smothered in cheese is a creamy delight.  And think you got all those healthy vegetables in the meal.  If you don’t like spinach, add broccoli or any other of your family’s favorite vegetables.

Prep Your Ingredients

Start by deciding on your protein.  Boneless chicken thighs make an excellent source of protein in comparison to chicken breast. It can be more expensive and not quite as flavorful.  When sautéed in a little butter and oil, the chicken thighs can add so much flavor to the dish.  Begin by frying the chicken on each side for approximately 3 to 4 minutes.  Remove from skillet and set aside.   Next, let the chicken thighs rest for five minutes.  This allows the juices to recirculate throughout the chicken. Then finally, cut the chicken pieces into strips set them aside to be used later in the dish.

1. Begin by boiling salted water for the pasta.  Cook the penne pasta according to the package direction for al dente.  Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.  Set aside.
2. While the pasta is cooking, shred the multi-colored peppers into strips, chop the garlic and onions into small pieces.
3. Add 2 to 3 cups of fresh, clean spinach to a bowl, set aside.
4. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces if needed.
5. Lastly, grated Parmesan cheese, 3-ounces cream cheese, 1-cup heavy cream to make a thick and creamy pasta sauce.

Assemble the Chicken Penne Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Seasoning the chicken thighs with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Next, heat a skillet with vegetable oil and cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides.  Set aside.

1. Heat a small amount of butter and oil in a skillet.  Sauté the peppers, onions, and garlic until soft add oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for flavor.
2. Next, add the cream cheese and mix thoroughly into the sautéed vegetables.  Then pour the heavy cream into the skillet, along with the sun-dried tomatoes and half of the Parmesan cheese.  Stir until thicken on low to medium heat.
3. Add the penne pasta (or curly pasta of your choice), 3/4 of the shredded cooked chicken, pasta water (if the sauce is too thick), add the remaining cheese.  Mix to combine all the ingredients then, add more seasoning if needed.
4. Add the spinach to the pasta and combine.

Top the Chicken Penne Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes with the remaining sliced chicken, and garnish with extra cheese if you would like.

Add a salad to complete the meal.

• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Cranberry and Almond Coleslaw
• Wheat Berry and Watercress Salad
• Mixed Beet Salad
• Grilled Stone Fruit with Feta Salad

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2.5 from 2 reviews

Chicken Penne Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes

 

Save Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Chicken Penne Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes is family-approved. It's delicious, full of goodness, and it's sure to become a family favorite.

Author: The Crafty Boomer

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 4 Servings

Ingredients

• 4 sautéed skinless short thighs, cooked and sliced into medium strips
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. adobo seasoning (seasoning of your choice)
• ½ tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 8 ounces penne pasta, cooked al dente
• 1 cup cooked pasta water, reserved

Sun-dried Tomato Sauce

• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tsp. vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• ½ cup red peppers, chopped
• ½ cup green peppers, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces. Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 4-ounces sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 1- 8 ounce package fresh spinach

Instructions

1. Start by cooking pasta according to package direction for al dente. Next, reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain. Set aside.
2. Oil in a large skillet. Next, heat 1 tbsp. Season chicken thighs with garlic powder, adobo seasoning, Italian seasoning, and pepper.
3. Begin by frying the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes on both sides, or until done. Set aside
4. Now, shred the multi-colored peppers into strips, mince the garlic, and chop the onions into small pieces.

Sun-dried Tomato Sauce

1. Heat a small amount of butter and vegetable oil in the skillet sauté the peppers, onions, and garlic until soft. Add oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for flavor.
2. Next, add the cream cheese and mix thoroughly into the sautéed vegetables, blend until smooth.
3. Pour the heavy cream into the skillet to create the sauce. Now add the sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese and continue stirring until thickened.
4. Meanwhile, add the penne pasta and ¾ of the cooked chicken. (add pasta water to the sauce, gradually creating a creamy thickness). Mix to combine all the ingredients.
5. Add the spinach to the pasta and combine the mixture. Next, garnish with the remaining chicken strips, grated Parmesan cheese, and cracked black pepper. Serve and enjoy!

3.5.3251