Creamy Basil Chicken Food

CREAMY BASIL CHICKEN AND ORZO

Steps:

• While chicken is still on the cutting board, pat it dry and season with ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon paprika and ¼ teaspoon pepper; set aside.
• Melt butter in olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat until hot. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes. Add chicken and broccoli and cook until most off the chicken is opaque (chicken will not be cooked through). Add orzo, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook an additional 1 1/2 minutes.
• Whisk 1 cup chicken broth with the cornstarch and add to the pot. Add remaining chicken broth and all remaining ingredients up to the "Add Later"/ cheeses.
• Cover the pot and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until orzo is tender, stirring every couple minutes so the orzo doesn't burn on the bottom, and replacing the lid. Add additional broth if the orzo isn't done and most of the liquid is evaporated.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted followed by mozzarella until melted. Stir in fresh basil. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper (I add ¼ teaspoon more of each). If desired, you can make the dish "saucier" by stirring in additional broth, milk or cream.

CREAMY BASIL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place one chicken breast onto a sheet of parchment paper, then fold the paper over the chicken. Use a rolling pin to pound the chicken breast to an even thickness of about 1". Set aside and repeat with the remaining chicken breasts. Season chicken on all sides with salt, pepper, and dried basil.
• Heat a 12" skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil, heat until it shimmers, then add the chicken breasts in a single layer. Sear 5 minutes until golden brown, then flip and sear on the other side 5 minutes more. Transfer chicken using tongs to a plate; tent with foil to keep warm.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add the butter and heat until it melts then foams. Add shallot and saute, stirring frequently, until soft, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, stir to toss with shallots, and saute 1 minute more.
• Add white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, then add the chicken broth. Simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Add heavy cream and whisk for 30 seconds, until smooth. Add the parmesan cheese, a few tablespoons at a time, whisking in between until the sauce is smooth. Stir in the fresh basil leaves.
• Return chicken to the pan and simmer in the sauce until cooked through and the chicken reaches 165°F using an instant read thermometer, 5-7 minutes. Spoon sauce over the chicken and garnish with more fresh basil.

CHICKEN IN BASIL CREAM

Steps:

• Place milk and bread crumbs in separate, shallow bowls. In skillet, heat butter or margarine to medium heat. Dip chicken in milk, then coat with crumbs. Cook in butter or margarine, on both sides, until juices run clear (about 10 minutes). Remove and keep warm.
• Add broth to skillet. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and stir to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in cream and pimentos; boil and stir for 1 minute. Reduce heat.
• Add Parmesan cheese, basil and pepper. Stir sauce and cook until heated through. Pour mixture over chicken and serve!

CHICKEN IN BASIL CREAM

Steps:

• Place milk and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip chicken in milk, then coat with crumbs. , In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook chicken in butter until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove and keep warm., Add broth to the skillet. Bring to a boil over medium heat; stir to loosen browned bits. Stir in the cream and pimientos; boil and stir for 1 minute. Reduce heat. Add the cheese, basil and pepper; cook and stir until heated through. Serve with chicken.

BASIL CREAM CHICKEN

Steps:

• Saute chicken, onions, and mushrooms in oil for 4 minutes.
• In lg saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour until smooth.
• Add chicken broth, boullion and cream.
• Stir in basil and pepper.
• Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• Combine with the chicken mixture.
• Serve over fettuccini.

CREAMY PASTA WITH CHICKEN, BROCCOLI AND BASIL - LOW FAT VERSION

Steps:

• Bring about 2 quarts of water to a boil - add a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water.
• Add pasta and use the cooking time given on the package to cook your pasta al dente. Stir frequently at first to prevent pasta from sticking.
• Add the broccoli to the boiling pasta water during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Meanwhile, microwave broth, milk and garlic in a microwave-safe bowl until steamy hot (approx. 3 to 4 minutes). Then let it stand for a few minutes.
• Put butter in a saucepan over low heat.
• After butter melts, whisk in flour, then hot milk mixture. Whisk constantly over medium-low to medium heat until sauce thickens. This should take about 1 to 2 minutes. You judge as to when the sauce thickens up.
• Stir in parmesan, cooked chicken, tomatoes, basil and red pepper flakes.
• Salt and pepper to taste and let simmer for about 5 minutes to blend flavors.
• Drain pasta and broccoli, *reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid* and return to pasta pot.
• Pour cream sauce over pasta, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten.
• Toss and serve immediately with a light sprinkling of parmesan.
• Enjoy!