7 OR LESS
Southwest Chicken Pasta spices up an old formula
By Sarah Fritschner
Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal
Decades ago, women's magazines used to show charts that displayed a mix-and-match approach to turning ground beef into dinner. Ground beef plus green peas plus noodles plus beef broth equals beef noodle casserole. Ground beef plus frozen corn plus chili powder plus tomato paste equals chuckwagon dinner.
Gannett News Service
Well, now it's chicken, but formulas still succeed. In this case, boneless chicken (thighs taste best but are more difficult to find skinned and boned) plus seasonings and canned tomatoes make excellent topping for noodles. And it's as easy as the ground beef from the '70s.
Southwest Chicken Pasta is a simple dish consisting of bow-tie noodles, boneless chicken and vegetables, and topped with cheese.
Make it easier: Use frozen chopped onions and so-called "salad olives" that already are chopped. Use chicken tenders so you don't have to cut up the chicken.
Make it tastier: Use a good-quality extra-sharp cheddar. Add a little cayenne pepper or chili powder.
Make a substitution: Use 2-2 1/2 cups salsa instead of the tomato products.
Southwest Chicken Pasta
8 ounces bow-tie noodles or other shape
1 onion, diced, about 1 cup
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken, preferably thighs
2 tablespoons chopped green olives
10 to 14 ounces tomatoes with green chilies
8 ounces canned tomato sauce
1 cup extra-sharp shredded cheddar cheese
Cook noodles in large pot of salted, boiling water.
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and cook onion over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted and turning golden, about five minutes.
Cut chicken into one-inch pieces. Add them to skillet, and cook two or three minutes, stirring. Add olives, tomatoes with chilies and tomato sauce. Cook five minutes on low heat.
When noodles are done, drain well. Combine noodles and chicken mixture, and stir to combine. Serve sprinkled with Cheddar cheese.
Serves four.
• Nutritional analysis per serving: 537 calories, 19 grams fat, 39 grams protein, 55 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams fiber.
Seven or Less recipes assume the presence of salt, pepper, sugar, flour, oil or butter in the kitchen; small amounts of these ingredients are not included in the ingredient count.
