Grilled Chicken Rigatoni With Pesto Alfredo Sauce Recipes

GRILLED CHICKEN RIGATONI WITH PESTO ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the rigatoni according to package directions. Drain, place back in the pot, and stir in the olive oil (to avoid sticking).
• Grill the chicken breasts on an indoor grill, 6 minutes per side or until juices run clear. Cut into strips.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Slowly whisk in the flour until smooth and pasty.
• Add milk gradually, whisking well after each small addition, then until no clumps can be seen.
• Add the sundried tomatoes.
• Heat over medium, whisking constantly, until heated and thick (sauce will thicken the more you cook it).
• Add the pesto sauce and mix well.
• Sprinkle the parmesan in, and whisk.
• Add the crushed garlic,chopped tomato, white (or black) pepper, and red pepper flakes.
• Remove from heat, and add salt to taste.
• Pour over rigatoni, mix and serve!

CREAMY RIGATONI WITH ROASTED PEPPER AND GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rapid boil. Add the rigatoni and boil for 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet to medium-high heat. Dry roast the peppers for 7 minutes, until charred. Remove the peppers from the pan and chop into large dice.
• In the same skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Add the olive oil and then the onions and diced peppers; cook for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cream and simmer until reduced by half. Add the chicken, Parmesan, 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper; cook until the chicken is heated through. Stir the rigatoni into the sauce. Serve hot.

PESTO ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat cream cheese, milk (or milk and cream), and garlic together in a small saucepan. Bring just barely to boiling.
• Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until cream cheese is fully melted into the milk.
• Stir in the pesto and reheat to just barely boiling again.
• Stir in Parmesan and simmer a few moments until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Remove from heat and serve over any pasta.
• Note on Pesto: Best made with a pure basil pesto rather than a basil-and-spinach pesto. Homemade or commercial is fine.
• Note on Parmesan: I freeze my homemade pesto without the cheese so I use the full 3/4 cup. If your pesto has a generous amount of cheese you will not need as much. Not that plenty of Parmesan is a bad thing. :D.
• If you toss this together with pasta, chunks of cooked chicken, and broccoli florets then spread it in a baking pan with plenty of shredded Mozzarella on top you get a terrific casserole.

CHICKEN RIGATONI

Steps:

• Heat oil, brown chicken on each side for about 5 minutes, remove from pan and set aside.
• In a large pot break up the whole tomatoes, add the onions, tomato sauces, water and mushrooms; bring to a boil, turn down heat and add chicken and spices.
• Cook uncovered for about 2 hours or until chicken is done and sauce thickens.
• CROCKPOT- If you prefer, brown the chicken and put everything together into a crockpot to cook, but allow more time for cooking.
• This is good served with noodles- rigatoni or otherwise.

PESTO-ALFREDO CHEESE TORTELLINI W/ GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Grill chicken breasts til done, julienne, cover and set aside.
• In saute pan, melt butter with olive oil and cook garlic, mushrooms and bell pepper til tender.
• Meanwhile, cook tortellini til done, drain.
• Stir in alfredo sauce, pesto sauce, chicken, tortellini, artichoke hearts, chopped tomato and black olives into mushroom mixture gently til mixed.
• Heat over low heat til heated through.
• Pour onto serving platter.
• Top with fresh grated parmesan cheese.
• Garnish top with fresh chopped basil or parsley.
• *If you prefer it extra saucy, double the alfredo and pesto sauce amounts.