Santa Fe Chicken Pasta Copycat Food

SANTA FE CHICKEN AND PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Spray a 3 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine salsa, soup and sour cream, mix well.
• Add pasta, 2/3 cup French fried onions, chicken and cheese, stir to blend in with salsa mixture.
• Spoon into casserole dish.
• Cover and bake 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• Before serving, stir casserole and sprinkle with remaining 2/3 cup onions.
• Bake 3 minutes or until onions are golden in color.

SANTA FE CHICKEN PASTA (COPYCAT)

Steps:

• Cook your chicken first.
• To blacken, lightly sprinkle blackening seasoning on both sides of the chicken.
• Heat a stainless steel pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken completely - turning only once.
• Hint: You may want to do this on your grill outside because a lot of smoke can be generated.
• Slice the chicken into the thin long strips.
• Set the chicken aside while you prepare the sauce and noodles.
• In a large pot, start heat your water to a boil in preparation for the pasta.
• In a large stainless saucepan, melt your butter over medium heat.
• While the butter is melting, finely mince the garlic and then add to the pan.
• Cook the garlic for two minutes and then add all of the cream.
• Stir occasionally while it reduces by half.
• Hint: If your garlic turns brown then the pan was too hot - start over, it will be worth it.
• While the cream is starting to reduce, prepare your other ingredients by finely mincing the green onions, cilantro, tomatoes & roasted red peppers - but keep the tomatoes separate.
• Stir in the cilantro, green onion & roasted red peppers while it's reducing.
• Your cream should be simmering now as it reduces - this process will normally take more than 20 minutes - stir occasionally and keep a watch out for it boiling over.
• Boil the pasta, which should take at least 12 minutes.
• Clean the snow peas and add them to the cream - if they simmer in the cream for at least 10 minutes they are perfect - cooked through and hot, but still a bit crisp.
• When the pasta is done, the cream should be reduced by half now. The cream's texture should not be thick like Alfredo sauce, but not runny like water.
• Drain the pasta well! Penne pasta is a pain because it holds so much water, but too much left over water will thin out the sauce you worked so hard for.
• Put the noodles back in its pot and pour your cream over the noodles.
• Add the chicken and stir everything together well.
• Serve immediately as this dish is not good as leftovers or once the cream cools.
• Spoon out an appropriate amount onto a plate and then sprinkle some diced tomatoes on top - you can also use some left over cilantro sprig as garnish if you like.
• I usually serve this with warm Italian bread with soft butter on the side.

SANTA FE CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Marinade the chicken in the marinade in a shallow glas bowl or pan for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat your barbecue to a medium heat. Pound the chicken to an even 1/2 inch thickness. Grill the chicken for 5-8 minutes per side or until done.
• In a small bowl, combine mayo, paprika, curry powder, cayenne pepper and salt.
• Brown the cut side of the hamburger buns in a hot pan. I usually lightly butter them first.
• Spread a tablespoon on the cut faces (top and bottom) bun. On the bottom, place a lettuce leaf. Cut open a chile and place it on top of the lettuce so that is covers most of the lettuce. Place the chicken on the chile then the slice of cheese, then the top bun.

BOW-TIE SANTA FE PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling water and drain.
• In large skillet melt butter.
• Add garlic and onion; sauté until tender but not brown.
• Add wine and cook until reduced to glaze.
• Add sun-dried tomatoes and chilies and cook 1 minute.
• Add corn, cilantro and chicken stock.
• Cook over medium heat 4 minutes.
• Add tortilla chips and cream.
• Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add cooked pasta to skillet and toss with sauce and cheese to blend.

SANTA FE CHICKEN CHILI

Steps:

• In a 5-6 quart pot, saute first 4 ingredients in oil over medium heat, until chicken is not pink and vegetables are tender.
• Add in chili powder, cumin, and cayenne; stir and cook for 1 minute.
• Add in the tomatoes and chicken broth; bring mixture to a boil; lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Add in beans, salsa, corn, salt and pepper; return mixture to a boil.
• Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.