Pasta nights are a staple in our household – there’s nothing quite like a quick and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy. When the dinner hour rolls around and inspiration eludes you, this versatile recipe serves as a trusted fallback option. With just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, create a delectable pasta dish worthy of any upscale eatery in under 32 minutes.
Why Our Recipe
- Conveniently prepared in just 35 minutes, with minimal effort required.
- Savory, succulent chicken paired with a mouthwatering tomato basil pasta that’s surprisingly easy yet tantalizingly flavorful.
- Savor this dish at any temperature – whether served fresh from the oven or enjoyed as a cool, comforting treat.
This recipe is ideal for those occasions when a swift and satisfying dinner is required, eliminating the need for ordering in or venturing out to a restaurant. When time is of the essence, chicken tenders prove to be an excellent choice, as they cook swiftly yet retain their tender and succulent texture. Simmer a flavorful chicken dish by cooking it in a skillet as you wait for your spaghetti to boil, and then combine the two with a burst of freshness from juicy tomatoes and fragrant herbs.
Ingredient Notes
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then proceed.
- Infuse your culinary creations with the rich, velvety smoothness of high-grade, artisanal olive oil, expertly extracted through a meticulous cold-pressing process. You won’t need to cook with this oil. Savor the vivid, pungent aroma of fresh olives, with hints of sharpness that leave a lasting impression on your palate.
- While freshly minced garlic offers optimal flavour, jarred minced garlic remains a viable alternative. While jarred jam may have a less sweet and slightly more bitter taste profile compared to homemade, its overall character remains distinct from other types of preserves.
- Feel free to use your preferred variety of tomatoes; you’ll need approximately 2 cups’ worth. Dice into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Chop or slice fresh basil leaves into desired shapes – a delicate thread of green for garnishing or finer shreds for added flavor in dishes. By layering a few sprigs of fresh basil leaves, rolling them lengthwise, and slicing them thinly, you’ll achieve perfectly uniform basil strips for your culinary creations.
- Perfect for quick cooking. Consider using chicken breasts or thighs as alternatives; however, they will necessitate a slightly extended cooking duration.
- Used to cook the chicken. One can employ a neutral-tasting cooking oil such as vegetable, canola, or high-quality avocado oil for this preparation.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice consistently boasts the most vibrant and intense flavour. Fresh or bottled juice can also be used, depending on personal preference and the desired level of sweetness.
Chicken Options
We employ chicken tenders in this recipe due to their rapid cooking time and simplicity. You can effortlessly substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe’s required protein. For those who opt for the richer flavor of dark meat, we suggest cooking boneless skinless chicken thighs, which consistently outdo their breast and tender counterparts in terms of succulence.
Time & Money Saver
You can effortlessly utilize leftover chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken in this recipe. You’ll typically require around 2 cups, but feel free to augment the mixture with an additional cup or two if desired. Grocery stores frequently market rotisserie chickens as “loss leaders,” offering them at or near cost in an effort to draw customers in and encourage additional purchases of higher-margin items. That’s a fact, as it often offers the most affordable option per pound for purchasing chicken. Make small changes now, reap long-term rewards later.
Pasta Options
Feel free to substitute with your preferred pasta type, as the simplicity of this recipe makes it adaptable to a variety of noodle options. You can utilise various types of long, slender pasta shapes, including but not limited to linguine, fettuccine, and bucatini. Try using penne, bowtie, or rotini?
Storage & Reheating
Storing cooked pasta leftovers in an airtight container allows them to remain fresh for up to four days.
This refreshing dish is particularly delightful when served chilled. With a unique texture that prevents clumping, enjoying leftover pasta is a breeze.
Portion the soup into bowls and reheat it in 30-second increments, stirring between each interval, until warmed through to your liking.
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