Cheesy Chicken With Kale Pasta Recipes

CHEESY CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cook shells al dente according to package directions.
• Cook onion and red bell pepper in butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in salt and chili powder.
• In a large bowl combine soup, onion mixture, milk and 2 cups cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese. Mix well. Stir in chicken, pasta and green chiles.
• Spread into a 9x13 casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
• Bake 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

CHEESY CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• This ooey-gooey pasta dish is a crowd-pleaser for adults and kids alike-think rich and creamy macaroni-and-cheese tossed with cauliflower and chicken. Serve with a spinach salad.;
• 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Add cauliflower florets and cook until the pasta and florets are tender, about 4 minutes more. Drain, rinse and return to the pot.
• 2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine and cook until reduced slightly, about 1 minute. Whisk milk, flour, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl and add to the pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and stir in cheese until smooth. Stir chicken (or turkey) and mustard into the cheese sauce; cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
• 3. Stir the sauce into the drained pasta and cauliflower. Serve sprinkled with chives (or scallion greens).
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 433 calories; 13 g fat (5 g sat, 5 g mono); 75 mg cholesterol; 42 g carbohydrate; 34 g protein; 5 g fiber; 491 mg sodium; 483 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (38% daily value), Calcium (35% dv), Potassium (20% dv). 2 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 low-fat milk, 3 lean meat
• TIP: To poach chicken breasts, place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a medium skillet or saucepan. Add lightly salted water to cover and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes.
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

KILLER KALE PASTA

Steps:

• Rub the red bell peppers all over with olive oil and place directly over a direct flame to char on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from the flame and place into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to steam for about 10 minutes. Once cool to the touch, remove the steamed peppers from the bowl and pull off the charred skin, stem and seeds. Cut into slices and set aside until ready to use.
• Set a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and saute the garlic with the shallots. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and the shallots are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes, and then add the white wine. Cook until most of the wine has evaporated. Add the cans of tomatoes and the roasted red peppers. Mix well and bring to a steady boil. Reduce the heat so it is simmering.
• Meanwhile, prepare the kale by removing stems and discarding. Tear the leaves up into bite-size pieces. Fold into the tomato sauce along with the chicken. Toss to combine and cover with a lid. Cook for about 5 minutes, and if you notice that the vegetables are "dry," add 1 cup chicken stock. Simmer until the kale is tender, all the flavors have come together and the sauce is thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook the rigatoni pasta al dente in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package directions, 8 to10 minutes. Drain the pasta and add directly to the Dutch oven with the finished sauce. Toss to coat everything and cook over low heat (this allows the last cooking of the pasta to be done in the sauce), 2 to 3 minutes. Add a little of the starchy pasta water if needed.
• Serve the pasta in large bowls and top with spoonfuls of grated Parmesan and extra red chili flakes. Goes great with a chianti or merlot!

CHICKEN, KALE, AND PASTA CASSEROLE WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in salted boiling water as directed on the package, then drain and rinse with hot water. Set aside.
• In a sauté pan or large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until onion softens, becoming slightly clear. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until the flour is well incorporated and cooked, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and chicken broth. Continue cooking, stirring, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
• Add the cream, thyme, parsley, chicken, and kale. Stir to blend.
• Stir in the cheese until melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine with the pasta and transfer to a lightly greased 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish .
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and toss with the breadcrumbs . Spread over the casserole.
• Bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and ​the top is lightly browned. To further brown the crumbs, turn the broiler on for a few seconds. Watch carefully, though: They can burn very quickly on broil.

EASY CHEESY CHICKEN WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente; drain and place in a large bowl.
• In a saucepan over medium-low heat cook the Velveeta cheese with sour cream and milk until smooth and the cheese has melted.
• Season with black pepper if desired.
• Pour over the cooked pasta.
• Stir in the chicken; mix well to combine.
• Ladle the mixture into bowl and top with Parmesan cheese if desired.

SHEET-PAN PASTA BAKE WITH CHICKEN AND KALE

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in top of oven; preheat to 450°F. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, mix panko, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 2 Tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl.
• Toss kale and tomatoes with 1/2 tsp. salt and remaining 2 Tbsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Add sour cream, mustard, 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid, and remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan and 1/2 tsp. pepper; stir until smooth. Stir in chicken and 1 cup mozzarella, adding more pasta cooking liquid if needed, until evenly coated. Transfer to sheet with kale and tomatoes and toss to combine. Top with panko mixture and remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Roast pasta mixture until cheese is melted and top is lightly browned, 5-7 minutes.