Chicken Tenders w/ Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells
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.
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. 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 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.
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.
Try these other easy Lunch recipes:
- Vegetable Salad with Grilled Chicken – Simple recipe with salad and chicken.
- Buttered Salmon & Summer Salad – Easy salmon and salad recipe.
- Chicken & Mushroom Potato Casserole – Simple casserole loaded with flavors.
Chicken Tenders w/ Creamy Garlic Pasta Shells
Juicy and tender chicken tenders with a creamy garlic pasta recipe. A simple dinner recipe for busy weeknights.
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
- 8-10 chicken tenders
- 2-3 eggs
- 3/4 cup flour
- Salt & Pepper for seasoning
- Oil for frying the chicken tenders
For garnish:
- 1/3-1/2 cups chopped Italian parsley
- 1/2 cup chopped scallions
Instructions
-
Turn oven to 200F – 250F with the baking rack in the middle – chicken will be transferred here to keep warm until pasta is ready.
-
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.
-
Dredge the chicken pieces in flour, shake off excess, then dip into egg wash on both sides.
-
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
-
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.
-
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
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Will be making this for dinner tonight! Thanks for the recipe
Hope you like it Dalla!
This is what I’m making for dinner tomorrow. Perfect comfort food
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.
Thanks for commenting Erin!