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Chicken Tenders w/ Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells

Cooked pasta topped with chicken tenders and fresh lemons in a yellow decorative bowl on a green napkin. Good Friday to you folks! isn’t it great to know that we’re headed into the weekend? Hopefully you get to do something fun, relaxing or exciting. When you’re done doing that and your family  needs to eat make this delicious, all done in 30 minutes or less pasta dish. The cleverly shaped pasta shells scoop up the creamy garlic sauce delivering little bombs of flavor right to your mouth with no spill. Close up picture of fried chicken on top of garlic pasta with fresh lemon slices.

Chicken Tenders w/ Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells

Feeds: 4-6 people

For pasta:

  • pasta shells, cooked al dante
  • chicken broth
  • heavy cream
  • cream cheese
  • medium sized onion, diced
  • cloves garlic, pressed/minced
  • Salt & pepper to taste

For the Chicken Tenders:

  • chicken tenders
  • eggs
  • flour
  • Salt & Pepper for seasoning
  • Oil for frying the chicken tenders

For garnish:

  • chopped Italian parsley
  • chopped scallions

Preparation:

1. Turn oven to 200F – 250F with the baking rack in the middle – chicken will be transferred here to keep warm until pasta is ready. 2. Start by making the chicken tenders. To do so, set up your station first. Place flour in a deep bowl. Whisk the eggs with a dash of salt & pepper in another bowl. Season both sides of the chicken with salt & pepper. Pour couple tablespoons oil into a skillet and set it over medium high heat. 3. Dredge the chicken pieces in flour, shake off excess, then dip into egg wash on both sides. How to prepare chicken by dipping in flour and seasoned eggs. 4. Once the skillet is hot lower heat to medium, add the chicken pieces, fry on both sides until golden brown and cooked through covering with a lid in between. Once ready, transfer to a plate and place in the oven to keep warm. Cook the rest of the chicken pieces adding to the plate in the oven. How to fry the prepared chicken on a skillet, cooking the chicken on each side.

How to make the Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells

1. While the pasta is cooking in salted water, make the sauce. Set skillet over medium heat, add couple tablespoons oil. Once the oil is hot add the onion and saute until golden in color and soft, about 4-5 minutes. Then add the cream cheese, heavy cream & broth. Stir with a whisk until the sauce is smooth (cream cheese will act as a thickener). Bring the sauce to a boil, then cook for another minute or two to slightly reduce and thicken the sauce. Add chopped garlic, stir it in and heat through for another 30 seconds. Season with salt & pepper to taste. 2. Keep the sauce warm until your pasta is ready. When the pasta is cooked al dante (it should still have a bit of a bite to it, or it will turn to mush when added to the sauce) drain it from water and add it to the sauce; stir to coat, cover with lid and keep warm until you go ahead and cut the chicken tenders into pieces. How to make the creamy garlic pasta shells by adding all ingredients into a skillet.

To serve:

Spoon desired amount of pasta onto the plate. Top with 2 chicken tenders cut into strips. Sprinkle with chopped Italian parsley and/or chopped scallions for garnish.

Side view of garlic shells topped with fried chicken and fresh lemon slices in a yellow decorative plate.

 

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Chicken Tenders w/ Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells

5 from 1 vote

Juicy and tender chicken tenders with a creamy garlic pasta recipe. A simple dinner recipe for busy weeknights.

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pasta
Calories: 640 kcal
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

For pasta:

  • 1 lb pasta shells cooked al dante
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 oz. cream cheese 1/2 pack
  • 1/2 medium sized onion diced
  • 3-4 cloves garlic pressed/minced
  • Salt & pepper to taste

For the Chicken Tenders

For garnish:

  • 1/3-1/2 cups chopped Italian parsley
  • 1/2 cup chopped scallions

Instructions

  1. Turn oven to 200F – 250F with the baking rack in the middle – chicken will be transferred here to keep warm until pasta is ready.
  2. Start by making the chicken tenders. To do so, set up your station first. Place 3/4 cup flour in a deep bowl. Whisk 2-3 eggs with a dash of salt & pepper in another bowl. Season both sides of the chicken with salt & pepper. Pour couple tablespoons oil into a skillet and set it over medium high heat.

  3. Dredge the chicken pieces in flour, shake off excess, then dip into egg wash on both sides.
  4. Once the skillet is hot lower heat to medium, add the chicken pieces, fry on both sides until golden brown and cooked through covering with a lid in between. Once ready, transfer to a plate and place in the oven to keep warm. Cook the rest of the chicken pieces adding to the plate in the oven.

How to make the Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells

  1. While the pasta is cooking in salted water, make the sauce. Set skillet over medium heat, add couple tablespoons oil. Once the oil is hot add 1/2 chopped onion and saute until golden in color and soft, about 4-5 minutes. Then add 4 oz cream cheese, 1 cup heavy cream & 1 cup broth. Stir with a whisk until the sauce is smooth (cream cheese will act as a thickener). Bring the sauce to a boil, then cook for another minute or two to slightly reduce and thicken the sauce. Add 3-4 chopped garlic, stir it in and heat through for another 30 seconds. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

  2. Keep the sauce warm until your pasta is ready. When the pasta is cooked al dante (it should still have a bit of a bite to it, or it will turn to mush when added to the sauce) drain it from water and add it to the sauce
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Tenders w/ Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells
Amount Per Serving
Calories 640 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 172mg57%
Sodium 323mg14%
Potassium 545mg16%
Carbohydrates 71g24%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 946IU19%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 79mg8%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Dalla

    Will be making this for dinner tonight! Thanks for the recipe

    · Reply
  • Marina Selivanov

    This is what I’m making for dinner tomorrow. Perfect comfort food

    · Reply
  • My mouth is watering at the sight of this dish! It looks like the perfect comfort food for a stormy weekend. Thank you for sharing.

    · Reply

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