Pura Vida View

Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Penne Pasta

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Ingredients

• 1 lb Penne Pasta (sub whole wheat for healthier)

• 1.5 lbs Chicken Breast - diced

• 2 tbsp. Olive Oil

• 6 cups chicken broth (optional)

• 1 onion diced

• 3 cloves crushed garlic

• 1 tsp. Onion Powder

• 1/2 tsp. Garlic Salt

• 1 tsp. lemon pepper (optional)

• 1 tsp. Slap yo mama (optional)

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

• 2 - 3 medium crowns chopped broccoli

• 6 wedges pepper jack laughing cow cheese

• 1 container alouette garlic and herbs soft cheese

• 1.5 cups shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese (optional)

 

• In a large pot cook the pasta in chicken broth (or water) until almost done about 10 minutes, towards the end, add the broccoli to the pasta broth and cook 3-5 minutes until tender.

• While the pasta is cooking chop the onion, garlic, broccoli and chicken. 

• In a large deep frying pan add the olive oil and sauté the onion, season the onion with salt and pepper and cook until tender about 5 minutes, stir frequently, add the garlic and cook for another minute then add the seasoned chicken (I season the chicken and mix it well on the cutting board)

• When the pasta and broccoli are done, with a slotted spoon, add them to the cooked chicken pan and stir well.  Mix in the cheeses letting it melt and stirring until well combined

**You can serve this just like this and skip the extra steps below and it will save on the extra cheesy calories**​

• Spray a 9x13 inch pan with EVOO and pour the chicken pasta mixture into the pan and spread evenly.  Sprinkle with the shredded cheese and bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees