CHICKEN PASTA DISH

INGREDIENTS 

Makes 3 servings - great for freezing

• 6 boneless chicken thighs

SEASONING INGREDIENTS

• extra virgin olive oil
• 1 dessert spoon garlic powder
• 1 dessert spoon smoked paprika
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1 dessert spoon chopped parsley - can by dry as well
• 1/4 dessert spoon oregano
• 1/4 dessert spoon onion powder
• 1/4 dessert spoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp black pepper

REST OF INGREDIENTS

• 1 dessert spoon unsalted butter
• 3 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 1/2 finely chopped red onion
• 1 dessert spoon tomato puree
• 2 dessert spoons sundried tomato paste
• 3 strings of fresh thyme or 1 dessert spoon dry thyme
• 1 cube chicken stock - I use the jelly ones - mix it with 200ml boiling water
• 1/2 coffee cup double cream
• 6 fresh basil leaves
  
• 2 cups pasta - we used Fusilli pasta for this one and it's amazing

LET'S GET COOKING -check out my cooking video below to follow the exact steps for prepping this amazing meal - it really is an easy dish to cook. In the video I do not demonstrate how I cook the pasta, I just explain it below.

1. Place a deep saucepan over a medium heat and add in the pasta, then cover completely with boiling water. Make sure the pasta always remains under the water, if it doesn't, add more water. This helps it not to stick or go dry. Boil the pasta for 12 minutes until soft, make sure to stir it every couple of minutes. I always check one piece after total cooking time to make sure it's soft.
2. Place all the chicken pieces in a dish that contains a lid, then add in all of the seasoning ingredients and drizzle over about 4 dessert spoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the lid and give a very good shake for a few seconds to cover all of the chicken.
3. Place a large non stick frying pan or casserole dish over a high heat. After a couple of minutes, add in the chicken and fry for 12 minutes. Turn the chicken over every couple of minutes. The key here is not to over cook the chicken because later we add it back into the pasta sauce to simmer. After 12 minutes, remove the chicken from the heat and place in a bowl on the side.
4. Now use the same frying pan, place it on a medium heat and add in the butter, the red onion, the garlic, the tomato puree, the thyme, the chicken stock, the double cream, sundried tomato paste and the basil leaves. Give it all a very good stir and season gently with a bit more salt. 
5. Add the chicken back in and mix with the sauce. Place the dish on a low heat and let it simmer for 8 minutes. Always cut open a piece of chicken when you have reached the total cooking time to make sure it has cooked all the way through. Cook longer if needed.
6. Remove the chicken from the pan and dice/slice into strips.
   
7. Quickly add the pasta into the sauce and mix well for about a minutes. Make sure the pan remains on a low heat whilst doing this step.
8. Now you can serve up this sensational family meal. My kids and myself absolutely loved it.

Enjoy

COOKING VIDEO BELOW