BAKED CHICKEN FETTUCCINE ALFREDO & WARM BROCCOLI SUN-DRIED TOMATO SALAD~ BLOG 365.303

Fettuccine Alfredo in casserole form is a fool proof week night meal. I add pieces of rotisserie chicken to this no-boil, one dish method making it an easy AND complete meal all in the same baking dish. It will quickly become a family favorite. The pasta cooks in the broth and half-and-half as they bake and reduce into a traditional Alfredo sauce. Serve with a side of steamed broccoli or a Broccoli & Sun Dried Tomato Salad for a colorful and complete meal. This is a lightened up version of the recipe I used to make for Baked Chicken Fettuccine.

BAKED CHICKEN FETTUCCINE ALFREDO serves 4

8 ounces dry fettuccine, snapped in half
1 cup homemade chicken stock
3/4 cup water
2-3 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
Juice and zest of 1 LARGE lemon
FRESH ground sea salt, to taste

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Lay pasta in the bottom of a 9×9 baking dish.
  • Whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over pasta.
  • Cover dish with foil and bake 20 minutes.
  • Uncover, stir pasta, recover and bake another 20 minutes.

1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 cup grated Pecorino, Asiago or Parmesan cheese
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces

  • Uncover casserole and stir in half-and-half, cheese and pepper.
  • Re-cover and bake 15 minutes.
  • Stir in chicken pieces.
  • Remove foil, stir and bake 15 minutes more.

1/4 cup FRESH FINE bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Pecorino, Asiago or Parmesan cheese
1/8 cup FRESH chopped Italian Flat leaf Parsley

  • Remove casserole from oven.
  • Increase heat to broil and place rack 6 inches from heating element.
  • Stir together the toppings and sprinkle evenly over casserole.
  • Broil 3-5 minutes until golden.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTE: If you prefer, ANY pasta works as long as they are submerged under the liquid – fettuccine is just standard with Alfredo sauce 🙂

 

BROCCOLI & SUN DRIED TOMATO SALAD

8 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup water
1 clove garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt
2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes in oil
2 tablespoons FINELY grated Pecorino cheese

  • Whisk together water, garlic and salt in large sauce pan.
  • Add broccoli florets and cook covered over medium heat 6-8 minutes until water evaporates.
  • Stir in chopped sun dried tomatoes and season to taste.
  • Garnish with cheese.
  • Serve immediately.

LEMON PECORINO CHICKEN ~ BLOG 366.180

LEMON PECORINO CHICKEN

CHICKEN
8 LARGE chicken tenderloins
½ cup AP flour
2 LARGE eggs
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Zest from 1 LARGE lemon
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
¼ cup FRESH grated Pecorino Romano cheese
¼ cup avocado oil
2 tablespoons butter

  • Flatten all the chicken tenderloins to an even thicknesses.
  • Set up dredging station with flour, beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, lemon zest, and grated Pecorino Romano cheese.
  • Coat each tenderloin in the flour, then in beaten eggs, and then the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Heat oil and butter in a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat.
  • Sauté the tenderloins 3-5 minutes on both sides until golden and cooked through. Work in batches if necessary – do not crowd the pan.
  • Drain on paper towels.

SAUCE
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon WONDRA flour
1 tablespoon FINELY minced garlic
¼ cup WHOLE milk
¾ cup heavy cream
¼ cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter

  • In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.
  • Sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
  • Whisk in flour.
  • Gradually add milk, heavy cream and chicken broth.
  • Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a SLOW boil.
  • Cook 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and butter.
  • Serve with FRESH pasta or mashed potatoes.
  • Drizzle the sauce over the chicken before serving. I made my sauce more like a gravy (thicker, but just as tasty) this time.

As seen on facebook:

SPAGHETTI with RICOTTA MEATBALLS & PECORINO GARLIC BREAD

In my humble opinion (especially now that bread is a rarity in my diet) a “dressed” garlic bread is the ONLY way to go! The strong penetrating flavor of the  Pecorino cheese in the garlic bread as well as the meatballs raises your normal spaghetti to a NEW level.

 

SPAGHETTI with RICOTTA MEATBALLS & PECORINO GARLIC BREAD – serves 2

2 tablespoons Pecorino cheese
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped FRESH Parsley, minced
2 tablespoons chopped FRESH Basil leaves, chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, minced and divide in thirds
3/4 pound LEAN ground beef
2 tablespoons Ricotta cheese
¼ cup Italian Breadcrumbs
1/3 pound spaghetti noodles
1 cup of your favorite marinara sauce
Avocado oil
Fresh ground salt and pepper, to taste
1 French Roll

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Bring a medium pot of salted water to a FULL boil.
  • Prepare a small baking sheet with foil
.

 

  • Mix together the ground beef, ricotta cheese, parsley, 1/3 of the garlic, pepper and 1 tablespoon of the Pecorino cheese with your hands until well blended.
  • Shape meat into ping pong sized meatballs.

 

  • Heat avocado oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add meatballs to hot oil stirring occasionally until browned ALL over, 6-9 minutes.
  • Set aside.

 

  • While meatballs are cooking cook spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente, 8-10 minutes.
  • Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
  • Drain pasta. Toss with oil.

 

  • In a small mixing bowl combine 1 tablespoon of Pecorino cheese and 1 tablespoon avocado oil together into a paste.
  • Stir in 1/3 of the garlic.
  • Place bread on lightly greased baking sheet.
  • Spread paste over bread and bake until golden brown.
  • Top with sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

 

  • In a medium sauce pan combine marinara, a pinch of salt and reserved pasta water. Bring to a boil.
  • Return meatball pan to a medium heat. Add remaining garlic, cooking until fragrant.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally until meatballs are warmed through, 8 minutes or so.
  • Plate and serve immediately.

Linking up to FULL Plate Thursday.