Description
A vibrant and healthy meal featuring fresh garden vegetables and tender chicken, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 1 zucchini sliced into thin half moons
- 1 bunch asparagus tough ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup frozen peas thawed
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to al dente instructions on the package. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta.
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until browned on both sides and just cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate, add a splash of water to the pan, and scrape with a spatula to loosen any brown bits.
- To the same pan, add the zucchini, asparagus, red onion, and tomatoes. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the garlic and peas, cooking for an additional minute. Add the chicken back to the pan along with the cooked pasta and stir to warm the ingredients.
- Stir in the lemon juice, parmesan cheese, cream, and fresh basil. If needed, add some reserved pasta water to help bring everything together to your desired consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with more fresh basil, and serve to enjoy a delightful Chicken Pasta Primavera.
Notes
For the best results, use high-quality ingredients. Experiment with seasonal vegetables for variation. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 100mg