Cajun Chicken Pasta

Recipe from: Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:
3 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut Into Cubes
3 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix, More To Taste
1 pound Fettuccine
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
½ whole Large Red Onion, Sliced
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
½ cups White Wine
1 cup Heavy Cream
Cayenne Pepper To Taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
Salt To Taste
Chopped Fresh Parsley, To Taste

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!

Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.

Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat.

Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan.

With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy!

Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.

Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down!

The Verdict: Terrible. It needs sauce. Neither one of us wanted to eat it. Two thumbs down.

Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce

Recipe from: The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
2 cans (15 Ounce Each) Tomato Sauce Or Marinara Sauce
Salt And Pepper, to taste
Dash Of Sugar (more To Taste)
1 cup Heavy Cream - I only used 1/2 cup
Grated Parmesan Or Romano Cheese, To Taste
Fresh Basil, Chopped - omitted
1-½ pound Fettuccine - I used orecchiette

Preparation Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

Heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or so. Pour in tomato sauce and add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Stir and cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in cream. Add cheese to taste, then check seasonings. Stir in pasta and chopped basil and serve immediately. (Thin with pasta water before adding basil if needed.)

**This was absolutely delicious. I even added some Italian sausage because Fred likes meat in his pasta. It tasted like something from an Italian restaurant. I served it with a spinach, dried cranberry, toasted almond salad. Delish!

Cheesy Baked Pasta

Recipe from: Keeping Up with the Joneses

Ingredients:
1 16 oz box campanelle or wagonwheel pasta (but really any shape will work)
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. bulk Italian sausage
1 yellow onion, diced
1 diced green bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
1 jar alfredo sauce (15-17 oz.)
1 large jar spagetti sauce (16-17 oz.)
1 jar salsa (16 oz.)
2 c. shredded mozarella
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Cook pasta al dente according to the package directions.
2. Brown ground beef, sausage, onion and green pepper. Add garlic near end of browning time. Drain well.
3. Mix together pasta and meat mixture in large greased baking dish (at least a 9"x13" or 3 quarts). Mix together all the dried herbs and roll between your hands to crush over the pasta. Mix in alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce and salsa. Stir together gently to combine.
4. Top with mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Cover tightly with foil (spray foil with cooking spray so it won't stick to the cheese.) and bake in a preheated 375° oven for 60 minutes.

**This makes a LOT of food. But it's delicious!

Spicy Chicken Lasagna

Ingredients:
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
3 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 eggs, beaten
12 lasagna noodles, cooked, rinsed and drained - I used 9 noodles ...because they come 18 to a pack and I had made lasagna before...if you use 12 what are you going to do with the other 6?!?! But I did not adjust the other ingredients and it worked out just fine

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375ºF.
2. Mix first 3 ingredients; combine 1/2 cup (I put about 3/4 a cup with the other ingredients) with chicken, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan and eggs. Spread 1/4 cup onto each noodle; roll up.
3. Spread 1/2 cup of the remaining sauce mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish (I used a 9x9 square baking dish since I only had 9 roll ups); cover with lasagna rolls (seam-sides down), remaining sauce mixture and mozzarella.
4. Bake 25 min. or until heated through.

Zesty Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 can (6oz.) tomato paste

-fill 3 times with water

1 package McCormick Thick & Zesty Spaghetti Sauce mix

1 small onion

seasonings to taste (I used red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning and garlic powder)

1 lb. ground beef (I used 1 lb. ground sausage)

spaghetti noodles (or pasta of choice)

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef (or sausage) and drain.

2. Add tomato paste, water, mix, onion and seasonings.

3. Let simmer.

4. Serve warm over your choice of pasta.

Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes

From: The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
½ whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
1 can Artichoke Hearts (14.5 Oz. Quartered Or Whole) Drained
1 can Diced Tomatoes With Juice (14.5 Oz.)
1 cup Heavy Cream
½ cups Chicken Broth (More As Needed)
½ teaspoons Nutmeg
Salt And Pepper (to Taste)
1 pound Thin Spaghetti
1 cup Parmesan Cheese, Freshly Grated
2 Tablespoons Fresh Chives (or Other Herbs) Chopped

Preparation Instructions
1. Cook spaghetti till al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Stir and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream and chicken broth. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not undersalt!) Cook over low heat until heated through, then turn off heat.
4. Place drained pasta in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 cup Parmesan. Pour sauce over the top. 5. Add chives. Toss lightly to combine and coat; add a tiny bit of reserved pasta water if sauce seems too thick.

For the complete tutorial, click here.

Spinach Ravioli Bake

From: What's For Dinner?

Ingredients:
2 Cups Spaghetti Sauce
1 Package (25 ounces) Frozen Italian Sausage Ravioli
OR Ravioli of your choice (Cheese for Vegetarians)
2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 Package (10 ounces) Frozen Chopped Spinach, Thawed and Squeezed Dry
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
1. Grease a 2-qt. baking dish.
2. Place 1 Cup spaghetti sauce in greased dish. Top with half of the frozen ravioli (ravioli does not need to be cooked, it can be frozen), mozzarella cheese, spinach and Parmesan cheese.
3. Repeat Layers.
4. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

For other great recipes, visit What's For Dinner?

Chicken Pesto Pasta

INGREDIENTS
1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
crushed red pepper flakes to taste
1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and cut into strips
1/2 cup pesto sauce (you can use Classico's pesto sauce and subtract the garlic from the ingredients)

DIRECTIONS
1. 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.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Saute garlic until tender, then stir in chicken.
4. Season with red pepper flakes. Cook until chicken is golden, and cooked through.
5. In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto. Toss to coat evenly.

Three-Cheese Baked Spaghetti

From: Tammy's Recipes
Ingredients:
Pasta Ingredients:

8 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 ounces (1 1/2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese*
2 ounces crumbled feta cheese, optional

Sauce Ingredients:

8 ounces ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups spaghetti sauce
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 ounces (1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese, optional

Instructions:
1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and return to pan (remove from heat though!). Add butter and stir until butter is melted. Add remaining pasta ingredients, stirring to combine. Spread pasta-cheese mixture in the bottom of a greased 8-inch square baking dish.
2. Brown ground beef with the garlic and onion. Drain grease and return to pan. Add pepper, spaghetti sauce, sugar, and Italian seasoning. Stir well and then pour over the pasta, spreading evenly. Sprinkle cheese on top if desired.
3. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until top cheese is browned and spaghetti is bubbly.

Alfredo Pasta

Ingredients:

1 chicken bullion cube dissolved in 1/4 cup of hot water
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup of cold water
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Combine bullion water and cream. Bring to a low boil.
2. Add corstarch water. Return to low boil.
3. Add cheese. (Thin with milk, if desired, or add more corstarch water, if desired. Sauce will thicken as it cools)
3. Add to desired pasta.

*You can top with grilled chicken, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, etc.