Chicken Pesto Cavatappi in 15 Minutes.
Seriously.
Every once in a while I like to just grab a book and head to Corner Bakery Cafe. I love their Pesto Cavatappi. And, if I do this only occasionally, I don't mind the price. But, I make a fast "cheat" at home that I think would rival their version any day. It's quick, pretty cheap, and mighty flavorful.
Corner Bakery describes their Pesto Cavatappi as: Oven-roasted chicken and steaming cavatappi pasta tossed in a rich pesto cream sauce and sprinkled with toasted bread crumbs.
Disclaimer: Now, I've complained before about Sandra Lee's "Semi-Homemade Cooking." But, quite frankly, if Sandra Lee made something like this - instead of "cooking" with cool whip all the time - I wouldn't tease so much.
Okay, so here's how I make it in 15 minutes.
1. Cook up 1/2 a box of Barilla Cellentani pasta according to directions on box. Drain, but don't rinse.
2. While the pasta cooks, remove the meat from a store-roasted rotisserie chicken. (Use about half and use the rest for another meal.)
3. Sprinkle the chicken with some salt, fresh ground pepper, oregano, parsley, and a bit of thyme.
4. Add the chicken to the pasta and give a quick stir.
5. In a separate bowl, add 10 oz. of Buitoni Alfredo Sauce (Not the low fat version) and a few of tablespoons of Buitoni Pesto with Basil Sauce (Again, not low fat) and stir. Add more pesto to taste.
6. Add the sauce to the chicken and pasta and combine.
7. Sprinkle with seasoned bread crumbs. (Or, if you're like me and don't have those on hand, I used some crushed veggie crackers.)
So, the ingredients are:
1/2 box of pasta
1/2 a rotisserie chicken
1 10oz. container of alfredo sauce
3 T. pesto sauce
oregano, parsley, thyme.
salt and pepper
Now, could I make my alfredo? Of course. And, the pesto? In a snap. Crackers instead of homemade bread crumbs. I know, stale bread is cheap. And, buying a rotisserie chicken is quite expensive compared to roasting one yourself. But, this is my "fast food" meal. It's bubbly hot Pesto Cavatappi with moist flavorful chicken in the time it takes to boil pasta.
Here's their pic below. And, another of mine.
Whattya think? Does it do it justice?
Try the recipe and let me know what you think.
So, what restaurant "Taste Alikes" do you make?
