Sometimes you just want a yummy, healthy-ish pasta recipe on a February Friday night. Something quick. Something easy. Something that feels like comfort without being heavy and overly filling.
I had chicken tenders thawed in the fridge, so I decided to make garlic butter pasta with Italian chicken bites. It made for a quick dinner and a relaxed night with the family. The kids even willingly washed and dried the dishes (teamwork) before our Friday movie night.
Why I Love This Recipe
Honestly, the Italian chicken bites were just okay.
I used dried seasoning instead of fresh herbs, and I do think they would have benefited from the fresh herbs the recipe calls for. The kids were a little finicky with them, and next time I’d probably just cook whole chicken breasts or thighs and slice them.
That said, the beauty of this recipe is how easy it is to adapt. Use whatever cut of chicken you prefer. Change up the herbs. Add more garlic. Make it yours.
The real star of the meal was the garlic butter pasta. It was delicious and super simple to make.
I suspected the kids might not love it with the amount of garlic I used, so I kept some plain noodles on the side just in case. My husband and I, however, ate it right up. This is absolutely going into the regular rotation.
Recipe Credit
Both recipes come from The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook by Mary Younkin. They are separate recipes, and she does a great job recommending accompaniments for each.
The chicken bites recipe isn’t available online, but the pasta is very similar to her Lemon Butter Pasta on her website, Barefeet in the Kitchen. The version online includes mushrooms, which would be a great addition. I also recommend a splash of chicken broth instead of bouillon, if you have it.
Notes from My Kitchen
- The chicken may have turned out better with thigh meat and fresh herbs, as the author recommends. I used substitutes (diced chicken tenders and dried seasoning) and they were fine. It’s chicken bites after all.
- My family is a little picky about tomatoes, so I used one small tomato. Two would’ve been fine, especially cut small.
- I added a splash of chicken broth to the sautéed onions and garlic for a little extra liquid. If you don’t have that, you can use reserved pasta water.
- I didn’t use a full box of pasta. I eyeballed what felt like the right ratio to the sauce. I also used protein angel hair pasta for a little added protein.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is the perfect finishing touch, but I love cheese. All the cheese.
This was on the table fast and felt like exactly what a Friday night dinner should be.
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