Lunch / Dinner
Chicken Margherita Pasta
With this recipe for Chicken Margherita Pasta, simply toss linguine with a pan-roasted tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella for the flavors of the classic pizza in a bowl. Some dishes never go out of style, and margherita pasta is one of them. Based on the ever-popular Margherita pizza, the main ingredients — tomatoes, cheese, and basil — echo the colors of the Italian flag. Simple yet bursting with flavor, it’s at the heart of what Italian cooking is all about.
Ingredients
FOR THE BREAD CRUMBS, SAUTÉ:
FOR THE PASTA, COOK:
HEAT:
ADD:
Fresh mozzarella, usually packed in whey or water, is generally made from cow’s milk. It has a soft texture and sweet, delicate flavor. Mozzarella di bufala is the most prized fresh mozzarella, and is made from the milk of water buffalo.
Instructions
For the bread crumbs, sauté crumbs and garlic in oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until crumbs are golden brown. Transfer crumbs to a bowl and stir in Parmesan.
For the pasta, cook linguine in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions; drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium-high. Add chicken and sauté, 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate to cool, then slice.
Add tomatoes and pepper flakes to pan and cook until tomatoes begin to burst, then crush with a potato masher, leaving some tomatoes whole. Add linguine and enough reserved pasta water to coat linguine with sauce.
Transfer linguine to a serving bowl and toss with mozzarella, and basil; season with salt and black pepper. Top linguine with chicken and bread crumbs.
Sauté chicken in oil, flipping when browned, before removing and cooking tomatoes in same pan.
Crush tomatoes with a masher to release juices into the sauce, leaving some whole for texture.
Gently toss ingredients before serving to incorporate flavors and to keep the basil fresh and colorful.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 781
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 34g 52%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 122mg 40%
Sodium 437mg 18%
Carbs 70g 23%
Fiber 5g 20%
Protein 48g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.