Southwest Chicken Pasta Recipes

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN ALFREDO PASTA BAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C)
• Cook the fusilli pasta according to box instructions. This will make about 4½ cups (900g) of cooked pasta.
• In a large bowl, mix together cooked pasta, corn, black beans, cooked chicken, alfredo sauce, and taco seasoning.
• Pour into a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking pan and spread evenly around the pan.
• Sprinkle Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese over the top and cover with foil.
• Bake for 35 minutes, uncovering after 20 minutes to allow the cheese to brown.
• Garnish with cilantro.
• Enjoy!

MAKE-AHEAD CHEESY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN AND PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in onion, bell pepper, poblano and jalapeño chiles; cook about 6 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Stir in flour and taco seasoning mix; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually beat in broth with whisk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in cream cheese and Cheddar cheese.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package for minimum cook time. Drain; stir pasta into sauce with chicken, frozen corn and black beans. Pour pasta mixture into baking dish, and pour enchilada sauce over top.
• Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with tortilla chips. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through and sauce is bubbling around edges. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro and red onion just before serving.
• To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with foil, making sure foil is as smooth as possible, as wrinkled foil may get stuck in sauce during freezing process. Leave enough overhang to lift casserole out of dish. Spray foil with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate sauce 30 to 40 minutes before assembling casserole. Mix sauce with cooked pasta, chicken, frozen corn and beans; spread in lined baking dish (do not add enchilada sauce); cover tightly with another layer of foil. Freeze unbaked casserole about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen casserole to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove foil, and transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and thaw in refrigerator until completely thawed, at least 48 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove cover, and top with enchilada sauce. Bake 20 minutes; top with crushed tortilla chips. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbly around edges (165°F in center). Let stand 15 minutes. Top with cilantro and red onion just before serving.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Add 2 1/2 tsp of salt and penne to the boiling water. Cook according to package directions.
• Sprinkle the chicken with the remaining 1/2 tsp of salt and the oregano.
• Cut the chicken across the short side to create strips.
• Heat the olive oil in a wide skillet over high heat.
• When the oil is hot, add the chicken.
• Spread it out into a single layer.
• Then add the sliced peppers.
• Cook without stirring for about 5 min - you would like the chicken to brown a little bit. If it seems as if it will burn, stir it.
• Add the salsa, stir and cook for about 5 more min or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the skillet from the heat.
• Stir in the sour cream.
• Spoon cooked penne into a serving bowl or onto plates.
• Top with the chicken mixture.
• Sprinkle with chopped cilantro, if desired, and a little of the shredded cheese.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN PASTA SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to directions on package.
• While pasta is cooking, mix together (in a VERY large bowl) the cooked chicken, bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, corn, onion, black beans, pinto beans, and taco seasoning.
• After pasta is finished cooking, mix it into the bowl with other ingredients (do not add cheese at this point because the hot pasta has a tendency to melt it, so wait to add the cheese until the pasta has completely cooled down).
• In a separate bowl, mix together dressing ingredients and fold into pasta/vegetable mixture. Stir until all ingredients are coated with dressing.
• Fold in cheese at this time and place in the fridge. I prefer to eat this after it has been in the fridge for at least 2-4 hours, but it tastes even better after staying in the fridge overnight.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Dice up tomatoes, set aside. Dice up the chicken breasts, set aside. Peel and mince garlic cloves, set aside. Wash cilantro, chop and set aside. Start water boiling in a large stew pot. Put in noodles.
• Saute garlic in butter and a bit of olive oil. Add chicken, salt and pepper to taste, slightly undercook the chicken as it will be in a bit longer. Now add the chicken broth, chilies, and tomatoes. Cook just for a minute or two so the tomatoes are warm, but not mushy, ditto on the chilies. Take off the stove.
• Drain linguini noodles. Add the first pan of ingredients, throw in diced cilantro, lightly mix up entire pot. Serve with crumbled feta cheese over the top -- heavy on the cheese!
• This is a drop dead killer dinner.
• PS serve with libations like Coronas and a slice of lime.
• sooooo yuuummmmmyyy!