This simple pasta dish with chicken and flavored with fresh tomatoes and spinach will be a hit with the whole family, especially the cook!
Here's What You Need
1poundpenne pasta
¼cupolive oil
1poundchicken tenders
1largered onion - thinly sliced
½cupDry White Wine
5clovestoes garlic - rough chop
6ozfresh baby spinach
6Roma tomatoes - peeled and chopped
¼cupParmesan cheese - grated
to tastefresh ground pepper and kosher salt
Herb and Spice Blend
⅔ouncefresh basil
1tablespoondry oregano
1teaspoondry thyme
Chicken Seasoning
2teaspoonsLemon pepper
2teaspoonsgarlic powder
1teaspoonground black pepper
pinchkosher salt
Here's What You Do
Prepare the penne as directed on the box; set aside. Reserve some of the pasta water
Apply the Chicken Seasoning liberally to the chicken tenders and set aside
Peel the tomatoes by lightly making a cross hatch over the stem end trying just to pierce the skin. Drop in heavily boiling water a few at a time for 4 or 5 minutes, then remove to an ice batch. After a few minuted in the ice batch, the skin should easily peel off. Rough chop the tomatoes and set aside in a bowl.
Add a couple tablespoons olive oil to pan over medium high heat, saute/grill chicken in sauce pan until browned on all sides. remove from pan and set aside.
Add more olive oil to pan; sauté onions until softened, scraping brown specs off bottom of pan;
Add garlic and tomatoes, fresh basil, thyme, and oregano and sauté until the onions start to caramelize, about 4 to 5 minutes [maybe deglaise with a little dry white wine]
Add white wine and let it simmer until reduced by half
Add the fresh spinach, mix well, cook until starting to wilted, about 2 minutes.
Add cooked panne a little at a time to the pan and mix well. You may not use all of the pasta, just make sure its all coated with the sauce. Add a couple tablespoons of the pasta water and mix well.
Add browned chicken tenders; mix well.
Add a drizzle of olive oil and the Parmesan cheese and toss all together.
Taste for salt and fresh ground pepper
Notes
Serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and crusty French bread