Garlic Chicken Pasta with Spinach

I found the recipe for this garlicky dish over at Kara's Kitchen Creations, which is one of my favorite places to find new recipes.   The garlic and Parmesan cheese gave it its amazing flavor and the pasta and chicken made it instantly likable to the kids, despite the presence of the green spinach.  This is an easy-to-make main dish that is definitely staying in our keeper files!  

  Click here for printable recipe. 

The ingredients:

6 Tbs. olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 box (1-lb) penne pasta
5-oz. fresh spinach, chopped
1 Tbs. dried basil (or 1/2 cup fresh)
6 Tbs. lemon juice
1 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions: 
Heat olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in  a small glass bowl in the microwave for about 1 minute to blend flavors.

Pour about 1 tablespoon of the flavored oil in a skillet.  Salt and pepper chicken and cook in the oil over medium high heat until chicken is browned and juices run clear.

Add the chopped and spinach and saute with the cooked chicken for 1 minute (or until just barely wilted) and remove from heat.

 

Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package; drain well.  Add cooked chicken/spinach to pasta, along with basil, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese.  Then stir in the remainder of the flavored olive oil.

 

Toss lightly until all ingredients are well-combined.  Serve immediately.

Makes about 6 servings.  Enjoy!

Don't miss a single recipe at Recipe Shoebox.  Sign up on the right for free email updates.