Does chicken and pasta go together?

While pasta and chicken are not a traditional Italian combination, they are a tasty combination. Chicken is a good source of protein and pasta is a good source of complex carbohydrates, together they can create a healthy and balanced meal .

Do you cook veggies before putting in pasta?

If adding vegetables to a pasta dish, it is best to cook them before. Vegetables can be grilled, sautéed, steamed, braised, or blanched before adding them to pasta.

Can you boil pasta and veggies together?

Yes, however, boiling vegetables with your pasta won't create a very nice texture or flavor. Pasta takes much longer to cook than most vegetables, therefore, by boiling them together you'd end up with mushy vegetables. Vegetables should be cooked separately from pasta or added in the final minutes of the pasta cooking process for a quick blanch.

Chicken and Vegetable Pasta

Author: Stephanie Kay

This chicken and vegetable pasta is a quick and easy dinner idea that is perfect for busy weeknights. Plus, it keeps well in the fridge, so it makes great leftovers too.

Author: Stephanie Kay
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Main
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Scale

Ingredients

10 ounces penne pasta
2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced into strips
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red onion, thinly sliced into strips
1 green zucchini, trimmed, cut lengthwise, and sliced into half moons
1 yellow zucchini, trimmed, cut lengthwise, and sliced into half moons
2 cups cherry tomatoes
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
4 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated, about 1 cup
Salt
Black pepper

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Instructions

In a small bowl, add the dried parsley, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes, stir to combine, and set aside.
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, add penne pasta, and cook to al dente or as per package directions. While the pasta is cooking, scoop out 1/2 cup of pasta water and set it aside. Once the pasta is cooked, drain the water, and set it aside.
Place the chicken on a cutting board, slice it into thin strips, and season generously with salt and pepper all over.
In a large skillet or pan on medium-high heat, warm the olive oil, then add the chicken. While the chicken is cooking, sprinkle it with half of the herb mixture, stirring the chicken in the pan to coat it with the seasoning, and continue cooking it until lightly browned on both sides, for a total of 4-5 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
In the same pan, add the garlic, red onion, and zucchini, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until veggies are slightly tender.
Add the cherry tomatoes and remaining herb mixture to the pan and stir to coat the vegetables in the herbs. Allow the vegetables to cook for another 1-2 minutes until the tomatoes begin to break down a little.
Once the vegetables are cooked, turn off the heat, return the chicken to the pan, then add the pasta to the pan, and give everything a cook stir until well combined. (If your pan is too small, transfer the chicken and vegetable mixture and pasta into the pot used to cook the pasta and finish the dish there instead.)
Add the freshly grated parmesan cheese and stir to combine with the chicken, vegetables, and pasta, adding small splashes of warm pasta water (only as needed, you don’t need to use all of it) to help melt the cheese, create a smooth texture, and prevent things from sticking or clumping.
Once complete, taste the pasta and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed, and serve immediately with some more freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 580 calories
Sugar: 6 grams
Fat: 18 grams
Carbohydrates: 62 grams
Fiber: 4 grams
Protein: 41 grams

Find it online: https://kaynutrition.com/chicken-and-vegetable-pasta/