Pasta-Less Garlic Chicken Al Dente

Pasta-Less Garlic Chicken Al Dente

I am so excited that fall has begun because there are so many wonderful recipes that taste so rich and flavorful without having less than ideal nutrition! This recipe not only tastes good but it is super easy! Our faux pasta is made with Spaghetti Squash which has a make-up much like angel hair pasta but with a crunch! Delizioso! Today we are going to use chicken but this recipe would also be very good witch shrimp or shellfish. Do what you think will fit your pallet and make it your own. Time hit the kitchen!

Skinny Ingredients:

3 lbs. Chicken Breasts

1 Large Spaghetti Squash (approx. 4lbs)

1 C Vine Ripe Tomatoes (2-3 tomatoes)

1 package Baby Bellas (should yield 2 cups)

½ C finely chopped Parsley (half a bunch)

3 Tbsp. Minced Garlic

¼ Tsp. Pepper (Black or Tri)

2 Tsp. Sea Salt

2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Non- Stick Spray ♥

Tools and Gadgets:

2 Large Non-stick Skillets

Spatula

Measuring Spoons

Paring Knife (Or any sharp knife for cutting meats and veggies)

Tongs

Measuring Cup

Strainer

Cutting Board

Baking Pan

Fork (I know everyone has one of these! Well…unless you’re a college student then maybe not haha)

Directions to Pasta-Less Pasta:

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

Place Squash into baking pan on the middle rack and bake for 30-40 minutes

1) Select a Pan 2) Place in the Middle
3) Middle Rack for even baking

While your squash is baking turn on your grill to heat up J

Clean your chicken breasts removing any fat (after cleaning and grilling your 3lbs should drop down to about 2.5 lbs.)

Sprinkle with 1 Tsp. of Sea Salt (LOVE this Stuff)

Place Chicken on grill and cook for 10 Minutes and then flip and repeat until chicken is cooked through

1) 3lbs of Chicken 2) Clean Chicken
3) Sprinkle with Sea Salt and Place on Grill
4) Flip after 10 Minutes and Cook throug

Remove chicken from grill and Cut into Strips or bite size pieces (Any size you choose is perfect!)

Next we will rinse our veggies and prep for slicing, dicing and chopping. – Let Drain
Remove Squash from the oven and very carefully poke with a knife, if the knife slides in easy to the middle of the squash it is cooked thoroughly. If not bake for an additional 5 minutes and check again. J

Let squash cool for 10 Minutes

Now Time to chop and measure our veggies ♥

Rinse Veggies
1) Parsley 2) Chop into very small pieces avoiding Stems

3) Tomatoes 4) Chop and set Parsley, Tomatoes and Mushrooms aside
5) Set Cut up Chicken Aside
6) After removing Squash from oven knife should slide in with ease, that means it is done :)

Carefully cut the Squash in half and remove seeds

Now take a fork and pull the strings of squash away from the shell separating them as you pull (See Photo) ♥ Should yield 6-7 Cups



1) Place Knife through the middle  2) Slice downward one side
3) Repeat with other side 4) Should split right in two - Great Job!

5) Remove Seeds 6) Should look like this :)
7) Stab with fork and pull towards the middle
8) Repeat to the whole squash

9) Scrape the Sides Getting all of the "Meat"
10) Nothing Left but a Thin Shell :)



Place 2 Cups of sliced mushrooms into a greased (non-stick spray) skillet and sauté for 5 minutes on medium high heat

Add 1 tbsp. Garlic and Chicken and drop the temp to low - medium low

And simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally

1) Heat Skillet - Add Mushrooms and Garlic - Saute 2) Add chicken
3) Add 3 Cups of Squash - Garlic - EVOO - Parsley
4) Saute over low heat - Repeat with remainder of Squash

5) Add Tomatoes 6) Simmer for 5 Minutes
Looks like So ♥





Heat a skillet to medium-low heat add half of your squash and 1 Tbsp. of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ½ of Your Parsley and 1 tbsp. of garlic sauté until lightens in color (See Photo)



Add remainder of Squash, 1 Tbsp. of garlic, remainder of parsley and 1 Tbsp. of EVOO and sauté (Remove from heat)

Stir in Tomatoes to your chicken and mushroom mixture and simmer for an additional 5 minutes until tomatoes soften and remove from heat.

Time to clean up!

Magnifico! Enjoy your Pasta-less Pasta Al Dente! Yum! ♥♥♥♥



♥ Bonus Recipe! See "Shapely Shrimp" (Submitted 7/13/12) recipe and Toss with 1 Cup of Spaghetti Squash! Yummm So Good! ♥
Just add: 42 calories, 10 carbs, 0 Fat, 4g Sugar, 1g Protein and 2g Fiber!!!

Skinny on the Nutrition:

Yields 6 Servings

Serving includes 1 Cup Squash

Calories…………………… 265

Carbs………………………. 12g

Fat…………………………... 6g

Sugar……………………….. 4g

Protein……………………. 38.5g

Fiber……………………….. 3g

***Nutrition is based off of serving size and brand recommendation.

Thank you for stopping by and hope to see you for dinner again next week! ♥

XOXO,

Magan



Image by Hibmages Photography
♥Belissimo♥