CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA

                                           Ingredients

Roasted Tomatoes

·      10 oz cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)

·      2 tablespoons olive oil

·      3 cloves garlic minced

Chicken Pesto Pasta

·      2 tablespoons olive oil

·      1.5 lb chicken breast (2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts)

·      1/4 teaspoon salt

·      1/4 teaspoon black pepper

·      1/4 teaspoon paprika

·      8 oz pasta (bow-tie, penne, or fusilli)

·      1/4 cup basil pesto

·      1/2 cup heavy cream

·      1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)

Instructions

1.   Preheat oven to 400 F. Toss cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and minced garlic. Spread in a casserole dish. Roast for about 20 minutes while you prepare the pasta.

2.   Prepare the chicken. This recipe uses 1.5 lb of chicken breasts which usually means 2 large chicken breasts. Make sure to use thinly sliced chicken breasts. Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally. Season them with salt, pepper, and paprika.

3.   Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet until hot. Add chicken and cook for about 5 minutes per each side until it's cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate. Slice it thinly.

4.   Bring a pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain.

5.   Add cooked and drained pasta, basil pesto, and cream to the same skillet that you used to sear chicken. Stir gently and bring to simmer to coat pasta with sauce.

6.   Top with sliced cooked chicken, roasted tomatoes and pine nuts (optional). Season with extra salt and pepper or add crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.

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