Speedy Chicken Tomato Pasta
A quick, meal-kit-style penne with chicken tenderloins, grated carrot, and a tomato & herb sauce finished with butter, baby spinach, and Parmesan. Includes a homemade tomato & herb seasoning in place of the packet sachet.
Ingredients
Serves
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 360g penne
- 2 carrots
- 660g chicken tenderloins, cut into 2cm chunks
- 260g tomato paste
- 40g butter
- 120g baby spinach leaves
- 50g Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1⅓ cups reserved pasta water
- salt and pepper, to season
- Homemade tomato & herb seasoning
- 4 tsp dried oregano & basil (mixed)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
Method
- Boil the kettle. Half-fill a large saucepan with the boiling water and a generous pinch of salt.
- Cook the penne in the boiling water over high heat until 'al dente', about 12 minutes. Reserve the pasta water before draining.
- Drain the penne, then return it to the pan.
- Meanwhile, grate the carrots. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken chunks with a drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- In a large frying pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over high heat. When hot, cook the chicken, tossing occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 5-6 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium, add the grated carrot and cook, tossing, until tender, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
- Mix together the dried oregano & basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and sugar to make the tomato & herb seasoning. Stir this into the pan along with the reserved pasta water, then cook until slightly reduced, 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter, baby spinach, cooked pasta, and half the Parmesan. Season with pepper.
- Divide between bowls and top with the remaining Parmesan to serve.
Notes
Penne, tomato paste, spinach, and Parmesan amounts are estimated typical packet weights - adjust to taste. Olive oil and butter amounts are also estimated. Optional add-ins: diced bacon (cook with the filling until browned, 4-6 mins) or double the chicken tenderloins (cook in batches if needed).