Penne With Chicken And Pesto Food

PENNE WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Meanwhile, pluck the basil leaves from the stems (you should have about 2 cups leaves). Wash the leaves in a large bowl of cold water and dry in a salad spinner or pat dry with paper towels. Smash and peel the garlic.
• Put the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the processor running, gradually add the olive oil and process until the pesto is smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large bowl and stir in the cheese. Season with the salt and some pepper.
• Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Add the penne and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and save about 1/4 cup pasta cooking water. Add the pasta to the bowl. Use tongs and toss with enough of the cooking water so the pesto coats the pasta evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
• Upgrades: a. Make the pesto creamy by adding 1/4 cup ricotta cheese when processing the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. This is great with tortellini or ravioli. b. Top dressed pesto pasta with 1/2 pound diced large or halved small fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), 3 medium tomatoes cut in large chunks, and 1/2 cup pitted black olives, (we like kalamata for this), roughly chopped. c. Add cooked 1 to 2 cups chicken or shrimp.
• Twists on Pesto: In place of basil, try the following combination: 1 cup parsley, 1 cup fresh spinach leaves, 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves. Substitute walnuts for the pine nuts

PESTO PASTA WITH CHICKEN AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• In blender or food processor, place Pesto ingredients.
• Cover and process on medium speed about 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides with rubber spatula, until smooth. Set aside.
• In 4-quart saucepan, heat penne and broth just to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until al dente and liquid is almost absorbed. Remove from heat. Add pesto; stir in chicken and tomatoes; cook over medium 2 to 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
• Garnish with basil and 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.

PENNE WITH GARLIC PESTO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine stock and garlic cloves. Simmer for about 5 minutes, or until garlic is soft. Alternatively, microwave on High for 5 minutes in a microwave safe bowl.
• Add basil to the bowl of a food processor; chop fine. Blend in stock mixture. Add Parmesan cheese and pine nuts; chop fine. Pesto can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain well, and return to pot. Stir in pesto to coat pasta. Toss with tomatoes.

PENNE WITH CREAMY PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Stir in penne and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still slightly firm, about 11 minutes; drain.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook and stir broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, onion, garlic, and 1/2 cup pine nuts until the broccoli and asparagus are tender, about 8 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and stir in flour and 1 teaspoon salt until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk until thoroughly combined, bring to a simmer, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer sauce, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Remove sauce from heat and whisk in prepared pesto. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
• Pour pesto sauce into skillet with broccoli mixture; gently stir in penne pasta until thoroughly combined. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon pine nuts to serve.

PESTO-CHICKEN PENNE CASSEROLES

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, cheese blend, spinach, tomatoes, Alfredo sauce, milk and pesto. Drain pasta and add to chicken mixture; toss to coat., Transfer to 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil; sprinkle over casseroles., Cover and freeze 1 casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly., To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly.

PENNE WITH CHICKEN AND PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken and garlic until chicken is almost cooked. Reduce heat and stir in salt, pepper, cream, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in cooked pasta.

CHICKEN PESTO PENNE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, sour cream and pesto. Drain pasta. Add pasta and chicken to Parmesan mixture; toss to coat.

PESTO CHICKEN PENNE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a small bowl until evenly moistened; set aside.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the penne, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Meanwhile, combine the chicken in a bowl with the Italian cheese blend, spinach, tomatoes, alfredo sauce, pesto sauce, and milk. Stir in the pasta once done, and scoop into the prepared baking dish. Top with the bread crumb mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and golden brown on top, 40 to 45 minutes.

CHICKEN PESTO PENNE

Steps:

• Season and saute the chicken breast. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, cook the penne in salted boiling water.
• In the same pan as the chicken breast, saute mushrooms and onion. When almost done, add garlic and saute until fragrant.
• Add cream and pesto and bring to a boil. Put the chicken back in the pan and add the sun-dried tomatoes Simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes to thicken.
• Add most of the parmesan (reserving a little for the top).
• Drain the penne saving some of the water.
• Add the penne to the sauce and stir. Add reserved water if needed to thin the sauce.
• Serve penne topped with the saved parmesan and basil if using.
• Serve.

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite (al dente), stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile chop cooked chicken.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are very finely chopped.
• Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl and stir in the Parmesan and the chicken.
• Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten.
• Season the pasta to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

PESTO PENNE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add penne pasta and a little bit salt, and cook till al dente (fully cooked but still firm) about 8-10 minutes, or according to package directions. Do not overcook the pasta. Turn off the heat and reserve at least 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander and let it cool for 1 minute.
• Transfer pasta into a large mixing bowl and add pesto and reserved pasta water (1/4 cup or more, if desired). Season with salt and pepper and toss well to coat. Stir in cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese.
• Serve immediately. Sprinkle extra parmesan on top, if desired.

PENNE PASTA WITH CHICKEN, MUSHROOMS AND PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Boil pasta in salted water according to directions on the package.
• In a large skillet heat olive oil on medium heat.
• Cut chicken into small pieces, season with salt and pepper and cook in olive oil over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until the outside appears cooked.
• Add mushrooms and cook for another 4-5 minutes, so they release water.
• Add pesto sauce and stir until evenly distributed. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes on medium.
• Add heavy cream, stir and then add blue cheese. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring frequently. The sauce should thicken and get creamy.
• Add cooked and drained pasta to the sauce and stir to evenly distribute the sauce.
• Serve with shredded parmesan cheese on top.

PESTO CHICKEN AND PENNE NOODLES

Steps:

• Cook Penne noodles til tender. Do not overcook. Rinse.
• Melt butter in pan.
• Pour noodles back in pan with butter and toss with the olive oil.
• Add Pesto sauce. Toss.
• Add cooked chicken breast chunks. Toss well.
• Serve with finely grated mozzerella cheese.

PENNE WITH CHICKEN, ARTICHOKES, AND PESTO CREAM

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes, until golden all over. Add artichokes, tomatoes, cream, and pesto. Bring to a simmer and stir frequently for 3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Fold in the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Cook 1 minute longer to heat through. Add more cream if neneed to thin out sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

CHICKEN PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
• Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil, season and wrap in kitchen foil. Bake in the oven for around 15-16 minutes until cooked through. (Note that if the chicken breast is larger than specified, it may take longer to cook. A 150-200g/5½-7oz skinless chicken breast fillet will need 16-18 minutes; a 200-250g/7-9oz one 18-20 minutes; and a 250-300g/9-10½ one 20-22 minutes. If cooking more than four breasts at a time, increase the cooking time by 5 minutes, and don't forget to check that each breast is cooked through.) Alternatively you can poach the chicken - place the chicken in a pan along with the peeled onion and carrot and cover with 2.5cm/1in cold water. Bring to a simmer, add a good pinch of salt and poach for 10-15 minutes, with a lid on, until the chicken is completely cooked.
• While the chicken is cooking, make the pesto. If you are using a pestle and mortar, start by pounding the garlic and salt to a rough paste, then add the pine nuts, then basil, then oil, and pound to a consistency you like. Stir in the cheese to finish. If you are working in a food processor you can blend the garlic, salt, pine nuts, basil and oil all together, and once you have a consistency you like, stir in the cheese.
• Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest until cool enough to handle, then shred into a large mixing bowl and toss gently with the pesto.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, and boil the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta, saving a cup of pasta cooking water. Combine the pasta with the chicken and pesto, and toss together, adding a bit of pasta water if it needs loosening. Serve.

30 WAYS TO COOK PENNE PASTA

Steps:

• Cook penne according to directions on package.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 1-2 minutes, until garlic starts to get fragrant.
• Toss in pasta and season with salt and pepper.