One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

Who doesn’t love a One Pot dinner? I know that I personally love to make one pot dinners. They are so fast and easy with a lot less cleaning up. Which I do Enjoy 🙂

This one pot Cajun Chicken Pasta is ah-mazing. Trust me on this one.

Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil

I love to make Spaghetti often for dinner. It usually comes together rather quick, which is a big plus for me lately.

Oprah shared this amazing recipe for Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil that I love. I enjoy the fact that it does not contain the traditional red pasta sauce.

Make sure that you guys give this one a try.

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

I love pasta..and c’mon who doesn’t love pasta. It is such a great comfort food and I know that in my house where picky eaters seem to live everyone loves the pasta dishes that are made. Which is a win win for me. It can be quite overwhelming living in a house of picky eaters. I really love casseroles during the cooler season.

This Cheese Chicken Alfredo Casserole was a HUGE hit. Everyone wanted seconds. What a great feeling when every wants seconds, and leaves the table full with a smile on their face. Mission Accomplished. I hoe that you will check this one out and make one night in your house for dinner.

Cheese Chicken Alfredo Casserole

• Servings: 4
• Time: 1hr
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Credit: Lil Luna

 

Ingredients

• 1 – 12 oz package Penne pasta,
• 3 – boneless, skinless chicken breasts (marinated in Italian Dressing if desired)
• vegetable oil
• ¼ tsp. thyme
• ¼ tsp. poultry seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 TB olive oil
• 1 stick butter
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 4 TB flour
• 3 cups half and half
• 3 cups milk
• 3 cups Kraft Italian Five Cheese Blend w/cream cheese, divided
• Italian Seasoning, garnish

Instructions

1. If time allows, always try to marinate your chicken. Throw them in a bag of italian dressing and let sit overnight or even a few hours will help your chicken to be tender and full of flavor.
2. Cook pasta as directed. Drain and set aside.
3. While pasta is cooking, heat 1 – 2 TB of oil in a skillet on medium heat.
4. Slice your marinated chicken in half so they are thinner pieces. This will help them cook through evenly.
5. In a bowl mix salt, pepper, thyme and poultry seasoning and rub it on all sides of your chicken breasts. Add chicken to hot oil and cook on both sides until done (about 15-20 minutes). Remove to a plate to let cool.
6. While chicken is cooling, preheat your oven to 350 and start on your sauce. In a separate large skillet melt the butter; add garlic and cook for 1 – 2 minutes.
7. Using a wire whisk, mix in flour and stir until bubbly. Mix in half & half and milk, stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
8. With your whisk, mix in 1½ cup of cheese. Cook an additional 5 minutes until sauce starts to thicken. Remove sauce from heat.
9. Preheat oven to 350.
10. Cut your cooked chicken into bite size pieces and add to a large bowl. Add the pasta to your bowl and then the sauce. Mix everything to combine.
11. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non stick spray. Add the pasta mixture to the pan and sprinkle with an additional 1½ cup of cheese.
12. Sprinkle with pepper and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

 

Three Cheese Baked Ziti

I simply love great pasta dishes. I am a huge fan of Italian food. This three cheese baked ziti is so easy and so delicious. We always seem to have some kind of pasta dish on Wednesday nights in our house so I am always looking for different dishes to try.

Do you guys have  favorite pasta dish that you always seem to make? If so please share your favorites in the comments below. I would love to give them ALL a try. 🙂 Especially if there is melted cheese in it.

• Servings: 4-6
• Time: 45mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Credit: Housewife Electic

 

Ingredients

• 1  16 oz Ziti (tube pasta)
• 4 cups washed baby spinach and chopped
• Spaghetti Sauce, 1 Jar or Homemade Recipe
• 1   cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 3/4  cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2  teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4  teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Prepare your pasta according the package directions.
2. Add your spinach to the boiling water with the pasta for the last minute of your cooking time.
3. Drain the pasta and spinach and return to the pot.
4. Stir in the ricotta, half of the mozzarella cheese, a 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese ,the spices and sauce.
5. Press the mixture into a baking dish (9×13 Size)
6. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
7. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the dish is bubbly.

Easy and fast and tastes delicious when it is finished. Plus it curbs my craving of melted cheese with my pasta. WIN WIN for me. Hope you enjoy this one.

One Pan Chicken Alfredo

This one pan Chicken Alfredo is simply amazing and yet so easy to make for a week night dinner. I love how fast and easy it can come together after a busy day at work. I usually make this with a salad and garlic bread.

• Servings: 4
• Time: 30mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

An easy, One Pan Chicken Alfredo Pasta dish from Melissa over at No.2 Pencil

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1¼ pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 14 oz can of low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• ½ a pound of penne pasta, or any bite-sized shape pasta, uncooked
• 2 cups of freshly shredded real parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Flat leaf parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Start by cutting chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces. Season with ½ a teaspoon of kosher salt and a few turns of pepper.
2. Brown chicken in olive oil over medium high heat.
3. It does not need to be cooked through at this point, it will continue cooking as it simmers.
4. Once chicken is browned, add minced garlic and saute for about one minute.
5. Add chicken broth, cream, and uncooked pasta to pan and stir.
6. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer.
7. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until pasta is tender.
8. Remove from heat and stir in shredded parmesan cheese.
9. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

Note: Keep pan covered while pasta and chicken simmer.

STRING CHEESE MANICOTTI

Ok so seriously THANK God for Christy over at The Girl Who Ate Everything for sharing this one on Pinterest. I love making Italian food.. Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Fettuccine Alfredo, you name it I love it, especially with some GOOD garlic bread or cheesy garlic bread with a nice salad. YUMMY good stuff here folks :). Thing is I have stuffing Manicotti noodles so this is a BLESSING in disguise. She has taught me a trick that makes this SO easy to do.

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 ounces) manicotti shells
• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce
• 12 pieces string cheese
• 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• grated Parmesan cheese
• (optional) basil, chopped

Instructions

1. Cook manicotti according to package directions in salted water.
2. While pasta is cooking, cook beef and onion over medium heat in a large skillet until meat is no longer pink; add garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Drain meat. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Spread half of the meat sauce into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
3. Drain manicotti. An 8 ounce package has 14 shells but I could only fit 12 in my baking dish and 2 of the shells ripped. Stuff each shell with a piece of string cheese. You could even use 2 pieces of string cheese but we thought one was plenty once it melted. Arrange manicotti over meat sauce. Place over meat sauce; top with remaining sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
4. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and garnish with basil if desired.