HealthiER Pasta, Chicken & Broccoli "Alfredo"

Serves a lot!

Ok, this is a recipe we made up and have done over and over until we think we got it right. None of the measurements are exact, but hey - a little more or less garlic and spices - to taste. :) We buy huge bags of broccoli at Costco and are always trying to finish the whole bag. Here's our solution:

12 - 16 oz. Pasta (we like farfalle)
2 - 3 large chicken breasts
3 - 5 c. broccoli
1t. seasoned black pepper (or regular pepper, we just like the little extra flavor)
1 t. salt
1 1/2 - 2 T Italian seasoning
1 T olive oil
1/8 - 1/4 c. parmesan cheese
1/2 red pepper
1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bottle of white sauce (We got Ragu white sauce on sale so we used that, but if you want to make your own alfredo sauce, it would for sure be delicious.)
3/4 c. milk (optinal)

1. Cube chicken, chop red pepper, mince garlic and steam broccoli.

2. In a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 t.olive oil over medium - medium-high heat. Add cubed chicken and 1/4 of your minced garlic. Let cook 5 minutes then turn. Add Italian seasoning, 1 t. salt, 1/2 t. seasoned black pepper, and 2 T of parmesan cheese to chicken. Cook until chicken is tender and cheese is melted. (I usually add the cheese when the chicken is almost done)

3. While chicken is cooking, warm 1 1/2 t. olive oil in a sauce pan. Add chopped red pepper, 1/4 t. seasoned black pepper (and maybe a little salt), the rest of the garlic. When the pepper starts to get tender, add bottled white sauce and 3/4 c. milk. Add the rest of the parmesan cheese (or to taste). Heat until it boils. Add broccoli.

4. Mix sauce and chicken together, pour over noodles and mix.

Wow! I'm just realizing how bad I am at writing down a recipe... sorry. Hope this makes sense. We really like it. I think the bottled sauce is healthier and a little lighter than the alfredo sauce I sometimes make, but I do like this easy alfredo sauce recipe too:

Boil 2 pints of cream, add 1/2 - 1 c. parmesan cheese and garlic to taste. Boil until it thickens a little. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 t. nutmeg.

If you use this alfredo sauce recipe, you probably won't want to add more parmesan cheese to the broccoli and chicken recipe. :)

Enjoy!