Sunday Dinner

Sunday Dinner doesn’t always have to be a meal of Pasta cu Sugu and Meatballs. On busy weekends I usually change it up with a pasta dish from my repertoire of fast and easy recipes  that can be put together in minutes, not hours. This past weekend per my daughter Amanda’s’ request I prepared her all time favorite, Pasta with Chicken Broccoli and Creamy Cheese Sauce. I too love the creamy sauce and the flavors of the chicken and broccoli but truthfully what I love most about it is the fact that is super simple to make. This recipe makes it’s way on to my table at least once a week at my house. It’s the perfect recipe when you don’t have a lot of time and your family is starving!  While the pasta is cooking the sauce is prepared and before you know it a delicious meal is on the table in less then 30 minutes. 

 
Pasta with Chicken Broccoli and Creamy Cheese Sauce

Ingredients

8 chicken tenders

2 tablespoon olive oil

3 cups broccoli; cut in bite-size pieces

1 pound dried pasta

4 tablespoons salted butter

2 large garlic clothes thinly sliced

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup Fontina cheese cut into pieces

1/2 cup Mascarpone cheese

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Step-by-Step

1 Season chicken tenders with ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons olive; Cook thoroughly on grill pan, grill, or Panini press; reserve

2 Steam broccoli; reserve

3 Bring large pot of water to a rolling boil; add 1 tablespoon kosher salt return to rolling boil; add pasta cook Al Dente

4 Melt butter in large frying pan over high heat; add sliced garlic sauté one minute; add heavy cream, parmesan cheese, fontina cheese, mascarpone cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg; stir continuously until sauce thickens in all cheeses are melted

5 Cut reserved chicken into bite size pieces; add chicken and steamed broccoli to cream sauce; season with ½ teaspoon salt and pepper; mix well; reserve

6 Strain pasta in large colander; return pasta to pan; add cream sauce; mix well; serve immediately