Tomato Basil Pasta With Grilled Chicken

Tomato Basil Pasta with Grilled Chicken 

Just within the last few days we have been able to enjoy the fruit of our garden that we planted way back around Memorial Day. I have been waiting all summer to make one of my favorite Tomato Basil Pasta dishes. I picked the fresh basil and tomatoes from the garden and got ready to cook up a favorite. Everything about this dish reminds me of summer and fresh foods from the garden.

Ignore the pepper this is just a picture of some of the harvest from the garden. Not all of the tomatoes you will need to use are pictured. 

*I make this dish without the chicken this time because I was just cooking for myself and wanted to skip a step. That is why you won't see the chicken in the pictures. 

Here is what you will need:

½ lb of wheat penne pasta

1 cup of fresh basil

¾ stick of unsalted butter

¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon of crushed red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon of garlic salt

¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper

2 skinless boneless chicken breasts

1 pint of small tomatoes sliced in half

¼ cup of Parmesan cheese

Directions: Makes about 4 servings

Cut the chicken breast up into small bites to sauté in a large skillet

Place ½ of the required allotment of butter into the skillet and melt

Once chicken is cooked add in the tomatoes and olive oil and seasonings, after tomatoes begin to simmer and “pop” add in the fresh basil.

In a separate pan boil water and cook penne pasta according to the box

Once penne pasta is cooked drain it and then pour it into the same pan you have the chicken and tomatoes cooking in. Stir to coat the pasta with the ingredients.

Add in remaining butter – I usually add in a dash more garlic salt and pepper.

Top with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!!

Tastes even better the second day!