Creamy Pesto Chicken over Bow Tie Pasta

 

This recipe is shamefully simple, yet delicious. All the best flavors of Italian pesto including basil, garlic and Parmesan are harmoniously coupled together with tender morsels of chicken in a creamy sauce over bow tie pasta, cooked Al dente'.
While this isn't a true pesto sauce (as I've omitted pine nuts), it's a great example of a throw together meal, full of flavor and dirt cheap to make.

2 tsp olive oil
1 pound boneless chicken, diced
1 (1lb) box Bow tie Pasta

1 can Cream of chicken soup (or mix)
1/2 c. Milk

3 T. Olive Oil
1/3 c. Parmesan Cheese (grated)
1 1/2 tsp. Dried Basil
1 1/2 tsp Minced garlic

Bring a large pot of water to boil with 1/2 tsp salt in it. Once boiling, add the bow tie pasta and continue to cook until it reaches desired tenderness.

In the meantime, place 2 tsp of olive oil in a large skillet and heat, add diced raw chicken and cook over medium heat until lightly browned on all sides.

While the chicken is cooking, in a small bowl mix 3 T. olive oil, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic and dried basil until well combined.

Once the chicken is nearly cooked all the way through, reduce the heat to low, add 1 can cream of chicken soup mix (condensed), 1/2 c. milk and the pesto mix of olive oil, parm cheese, garlic and basil. Simmer 5 minutes or so until the sauce thickens and is smooth.

Drain the pasta, rinse in HOT water to remove an excess starches. Pour the Hot Pasta into the skillet and fold until all the pasta is coated in the creamy sauce. Serve with toasted garlic bread and salad!

This easily serves 6 people, plus enough leftovers for at least 2 people the next day.

The GroceryBudget101 Breakdown:

1 box bow tie pasta - $1.00 (walmart)
Minced Garlic- negligible .01
Basil- negligible .02
1 pound Boneless skinless chicken breast $1.57
parm cheese .06
milk - .10
Cream of Chicken Soup Mix .14
==========================
Total Cost of Recipe: $2.90 Total or .48 per person (feeding 6 people)

Read more: GroceryBudget101.com- - Creamy Pesto Chicken over Bow Tie Pasta | Dirt Cheap Recipes http://www.grocerybudget101.com/content.php/302-Creamy-Pesto-Chicken-over-Bow-Tie-Pasta#ixzz1tgMFjZ8V

Easy Parmesan Knots

These are easy to make because they start off with a can of refrigerated biscuit dough.  However, they look fancy because you shape the dough in a knot.  Pretty, yummy and easy.  What more could you want?  You could do the same thing with your favorite roll recipe too.  Just shape the same, bake according to your roll recipe and brush with the oil mixture.

Easy Parmesan Knots

• 1 tube (12 ounces) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits ( I used Pillsbury Golden Layers Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits)
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (I did use the green can stuff)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1. Roll each biscuit into a 12-in. rope and tie into a knot; tuck ends under. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
2. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; brush the warm knots with the mixture. Yield:10 knots. 

http://realmomkitchen.com/609/easy-parmesan-knots/

Chicken & Spinach Pasta Bake

If you are here from Pinterest, please follow my boards here–would love to share with you on my latest addiction!!
I must tell you, this is one of my favorite dishes to make when we’re having company over.  It’s tried & true and from the kitchen of my blog partner, Jessica, of course.  I love this dish for company because you can cook & chop the chicken as well as cutting up several other ingredients in advance plus it has beautiful presentation.  Added bonus: I frequently get asked for the recipe.  Hope you all enjoy this dish, too!

Chicken & Spinach Pasta Bake

• 8 oz uncooked rigatoni
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 c chopped onion
• 1 (10 oz) pack frozen spinach, thawed
• 3 c cubed, cooked chicken breasts
• 1 (14 oz) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 (8 oz) container Philadelphia chive & onion cream cheese
• ½ t salt, ½ t pepper
• 1½ c shredded mozzarella cheese

Prepare rigatoni according to pkg directions.  Spread oil on bottom of 11×17 in baking dish; add onion in a single layer.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or just until tender.  Transfer onion to large bowl, set aside.
Drain chopped spinach well, pressing between paper towels.  Stir in rigatoni, spinach, chicken, & next 4 ingredients into onion in bowl.  Spoon mixture into dish & sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.  Bake covered at 375 for 30 minutes; uncover & bake 15 more minutes or until bubbly.

Cheesy Chicken Ranch Lasagna

Next time I make this I'll used cooked penne pasta (not the full box) and do a casserole with it. I served this with Garlic Knots (Pinterest also, and with those next time I'd use my own roll dough recipe, and for the topping use melted butter, garlic and parsley) and green beans.

Cheesy Chicken Ranch Lasagna
Adapted from Real Mom Kitchen

2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk
1 (1 oz) pkg. Hidden Valley dry Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix (not the dip blend)
3 C. cubed, cooked, chicken
1/8 tsp pepper
1 (16oz) lasagna noodles, cooked (I used 9 noodles)
1 1/2 to 2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/2 to 2 C mozzarella cheese, grated

Combine evaporated milk and Ranch dressing and pepper in a 3 quart heavy saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently until dry ingredients are dissolved. Simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes, stirring frequently. Sauce will thicken slightly.  Layer half of lasagna noodles, chicken, sauce, and cheese in well-greased 9×13 pan. Repeat layers again. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

This sauce may curdle on you when heating it, it's OK. Mine did not, because I kept it at a low heat after I let it come to just a boil, and stirred, stirred, stirred. You may not need the full 25 minutes, so when you can tell it's starting to thicken, it's OK to add to the dish. It may curdle after it's baked, but again, it's OK.

 FOR A GLUTEN FREE CASSEROLE STYLE:
(for non GF, use regular pasta)

2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk
1 (1 oz) pkg. Any Gluten Free Dry Ranch Salad Dressing (not the dip blend)
3 C. cubed, cooked, chicken (about 2 large chicken breasts)
1/8 tsp pepper
2-3 C. uncooked gluten free penne pasta
1 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C mozzarella cheese, grated

Spray a 9x13 baking dish. Cook pasta until about 2 minutes under regular cook time (probably about 5-6 minutes). Drain, add to prepared dish.
Combine evaporated milk and Ranch dressing and pepper in a 3 quart heavy saucepan. Heat just to a boil then lower heat, stirring frequently until dry ingredients are dissolved. Simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes, stirring frequently. Sauce will thicken slightly.
Layer pasta, chicken, sauce, and cheese into dish.  Bake uncovered at 350' for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Chicken Parmesan Wraps

Egg roll and wanton wrappers are unbelievably versatile. From buffalo chicken rolls, to petite lasagnas to pastry puffs, the list goes on and on!  I don’t know about you, but I always seem to draw a blank when it comes to new and different appetizers, so this week, I’ve discovered an amazing recipe for Chicken Parmesan Wraps on Can You Stay For Dinner-who doesn’t like chicken parmesan?  Best part about this recipe, it’s a total crowd pleaser, and most importantly, it’s so simple!

Chicken Parmesan Wraps

Gather Up:

8 oz raw chicken breast

1 cup marinara sauce, plus more for serving

6 egg roll wrappers (each 7 inches squared)

1 cup baby spinach leaves

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Place the chicken breast in a small pot and fill with enough water just to cover. Bring to a boil on your stove top, reduce the heat slightly, then simmer for about 12 minutes, or until cooked through. Drain and let cool before shredding with two forks, pulling against the grain of the meat. Mix the meat with the marinara sauce in a small bowl.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lay the egg roll wrappers on a clean work surface. Layer each with a few leaves of spinach, then chicken, followed by mozzarella and Parmesan.

Lightly brush two adjacent sides of the wrapper with water and fold the upper left corner downward, covering the filling, and press to seal on the bottom right corner. Press to seal each of the sides. Repeat with remaining wraps.

Place all 6 filled wraps on a greased wire rack set over a cookie sheet, coat each in cooking spray or a light brushing of olive oil, and bake for about 12 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn a golden brown.

Serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

http://www.picklee.com/category/food/appetizers/#.T43IPo6LMy5

Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes

I may spend the majority of my time in the kitchen figuring out how to pack lots of vegetables, whole grains, and legumes into a simple yet flavorful dinner, but I can’t pretend that packaged food never makes an appearance in our house. There’s just something about Oreos I can’t resist, even though I know they’re full of junk.
I swear I’m not trying to make all the cupcakes out of Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes, but lately every recipe that’s jumped out at me as I scroll through dozens of food blogs happens to be from that book.
These are awesome, and if you’re at all hesitant about making cheesecakes this is a great place to start, because you get all the good qualities of a cheesecake without having to worry about cracking or water baths or springform pans. They’re easy to put together, and the hardest part is definitely waiting the four hours they need to chill (but you can speed that up by putting them in the freezer for some of the time).

Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 22 Oreos: 16 left whole, and 6 coarsely chopped
• 2 8-oz packages cream cheese, at room temperature (Neufchatel is fine)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 275 F.
2. Line 12 standard muffin tins and 4 ramekins (or 16 muffin tins, if you have them) with paper liners.
3. Place 1 whole Oreo in the bottom of each lined cup.
4. Beat the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium. Gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla.
5. Pour in the beaten eggs, a little at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
6. Beat in the sour cream and salt.
7. Stir in chopped cookies by hand.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared tins, filling each almost to the top.
9. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until filling is set, 22-25 minutes.
10. Cool in the pans for about 15 minutes, on a wire rack, then transfer to a plate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

(adapted from 52 Cupcakes, originally from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes)

http://catesworldkitchen.com/2010/01/oreo-cheesecake-cupcakes/

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

Taken after the model of these delicious wraps, I threw these together for dinner the other night after I realized it was already 5:00 p.m. and I had nothing in the works to feed my hungry family.
They were so delicious! I was quite proud of myself for the impromptu meal that actually turned out (since usually my impromptu meals are, well, terrible). Full of flavor, these wraps are a snap to make and turn out a delightfully crunchy tortilla that is filled with rice, chicken, beans, spices and cheese. I couldn’t wait to snarf these down for lunch leftovers the next day.
I just love it when a meal happens to fit all the criteria I love: healthful, fast, delicious. Score.

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps
Printable Version
Printable Version with Picture
*Makes 6 wraps*
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup cooked rice, warm or at room temperature
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green onion, finely sliced (white and green parts)
1/2 red or green pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a combination of monterey jack and sharp cheddar)
Sour cream (optional)
6 burrito-sized flour tortillas

DIRECTIONS:
Mix rice together with chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream. Sprinkle cheese over tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges, then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. (Optional: on some of the wraps, I dotted the cheese with about 1-2 tablespoons of reduced fat sour cream before arranging chicken and rice mixture down the center – it made the wraps delightfully creamy.) Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open. Spray the tortillas all over with cooking spray.
Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat for 1 minute. Arrange 2 wraps, seam-side down, in pan and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wraps. Serve.

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/09/crispy-southwest-chicken-wraps.html