Tomato, Lemon, Chicken Pasta

If I am not making desserts to post here, I can at least post some of the foods I am making right? Maybe we take a healthy turn on this blog for a little bit at least. I just want to know for those of you currently pregnant or were pregnant, what foods did you have complete aversions to? 
Yesterday, I bought dinner to some friends of ours who recently adopted a baby. That is one of life's greatest joys, isn't it? To be able to help out when a baby becomes the newest member of someone's family. 
I brought them this pasta dish yesterday, it was easy to make and smelled wonderful. I didn't make enough for Sean and I to have for dinner so maybe I will make it again just for us.
To make this dish, you need, 2 1/2 cups dried pasta either cavatappi or rotini, 1 lb chicken breasts, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 garlic cloves, chopped, 1 can (14.5oz) petite diced tomatoes, 1 can (8oz.) tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup whipped cream cheese or 4 oz. cubed regular cream cheese, 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/4 cup freshly chopped basil.

Cook your pasta according to the directions on the box, omitting the salt from the water. 

Drain and set aside until ready to add to the tomato sauce later on. In a nonstick skillet, heat up the olive oil and cook the cubed chicken breasts along with the chopped garlic. 


Cook the chicken thoroughly then remove from the skillet. Using the same pan, add the diced tomato, tomato sauce and lemon juice and heat up until it comes to a boil. 

Then add in the cream cheese and stir until it completely melts. 


Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Add the chicken into the sauce and stir to mix. 
Sprinkle the lemon zest and chopped basil on top of the sauce. 
This is how to chop basil without bruising the leaves. You roll up the leaves then slice the basil like you would a loaf of bread except much thinner slices.



Finally, add the pasta to the chicken and sauce then stir to completely combine. 

Then serve, eat and enjoy. I provided a salad and homemade focaccia yesterday for dinner if you need suggestions.

26 comments:

Carol {Everyday Delights} said...

That looks great! Love all the fresh herbs too, very summery!

Simply LKJ said...

Yum. Sounds fabulous!

Sarah said...

wow, that looks amazing! I definitely think you should make this for yourselves. I had an aversion to tomatoes for the first 20 or so weeks. Luckily that went away and I am a happy tomato eater again.

brooke lyn said...

oh man this looks fab! lemon is probably one of my favorite flavors.

awhite said...

Creamy chicken pasta GOODNESS. :) Yum!

-Ashley
http://lestylorouge.com

McKenna Lou said...

This looks absolutely amazing! I simply have to try this. Lemon makes everything so much better. xx. McKenna Lou
www.lynnandlou.com

Tiara | a Happy Healthy Home said...

This sounds Amazing!Glad to see you're still cooking!

Rachel said...

Yum! In pasta dishes there is always one ingredient I don;t like, but this one is the exception!

Jenny N said...

mmm...that looks seriously good! Can't go wrong with heavy cream, right? ;)

Pamela said...

Yummm! Love pasta!

whit | Black Little Button blog said...

YUM! :) Such a nice dish to give to them. Congrats on their new addition.
-wHiT

Leslie said...

This looks and sounds amazing!! I might make it this weekend :)

Allison said...

Looks delicious Meg! And I love being able to take meals to new families. It's such a sweet time. :)

lori said...

this looks sooo yummy! i haven't been too big into meat this pregnancy, but fish is my biggest aversion... i just can't do it! (and we used to eat fish a couple of times a week).

Kendall said...

When preggers with my son, I could only eat cheese items for the first trimester (pizza, calzones, mac and cheese) which is one reason I gained 40 unhealthy pounds. With my daughter, I could not cook beef. Chicken was golden but red meat made me sick. I'm going to have to try this recipe though, looks easy and yummy!

Erica D said...

Looks delicious! I love pasta so I am always looking for new recipes to spice things up a bit. Great post!

Selma @ Crazy Little World Of Mine said...

Fresh herbs...perfect. :)

Always Maylee said...

Looks really yummy and tasty!

xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee

Meg Brink said...

Looks amazing! You might have to do a recipe once a week that is pregnancy friendly :) I think you're on to something here Meg!

birdie to be said...

Yum! Looks delish as always!

Megan said...

Anything healthy is right up my alley! Looks amazingly delectable :)

http://hellonewlywedlife.blogspot.com/

Hilary said...

My husband is a chicken fanatic - pinning this!

Jane said...

omg this looks so delicious. we love trying out different pasta recipes! thanks for this!

ALLIE NYC said...

OMG I think we actually have all these ingredients in the house. I think this may be whats for dinner tonight!

Ali of

Dressing Ken

Kristin said...

Sounds easy and delish!

Brittany Kyte said...

Yummy, Meg! This looks delicious!!