Italian Chicken Pasta

 

Italian Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

For the cooking chicken:

4 thin boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 2 thick ones, halved horizontally and paper towel dried)

½ cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 tablespoons olive oil

Pasta:

12 oz of spaghetti

White Wine Parmesan Sauce:

4 tablespoons butter

1 small yellow onion (or use ½ onion) chopped

4 garlic cloves minced

2 scallions chopped

2 small tomatoes diced

1 tablespoon flour

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup white wine

½ cup Parmesan cheese shredded

1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

½ teaspoon salt more to taste

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

PREPARING CHICKEN BREASTS:

Make sure to cut chicken breasts

horizontally

to make them thin. Or, use thin chicken breasts, to begin with. A Paper towel dries the chicken.

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir well to blend. Using a fork or tongs, coat the chicken breasts in the flour mixture by pressing into the mixture with tongs and then flipping the chicken over to coat the other side. Set aside.

COOKING CHICKEN BREASTS: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, place flour-coated chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, turning once between cooking, about 8-10 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.

SAUCE: Add butter, diced yellow onion, and minced garlic cloves to the pan. Cook on medium-high until onions and garlic are translucent, about 2 minutes. Next, add chopped scallions and tomatoes. Add 1 tablespoon of flour to the pan and whisk to combine.

Now add heavy cream, wine, Italian Seasoning, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bring mixture to a simmering point and then add ½ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese. Use a whisk or a wooden spoon and mix it in until you have a smooth mixture.

COOKING PASTA according to your package instructions in salty water. I like pasta that is neither too hard nor too soft, so I always cook it, Al Dente. Drain, but do not rinse.

FINAL ASSEMBLY: Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce and stir to combine on low heat for 2-4 minutes. Taste and add salt, if needed. Return the chicken to the skillet on top of the pasta and allow it to warm up for an additional 5 minutes.

SERVE chicken either on top or next to pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.