ZESTY CHICKEN ALFREDO

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Zesty Chicken Alfredo image

I almost feel guilt making a recipe using purchased Alfredo sauce, since the real thing is so easy to make, but this is a lot healthier.

Provided by Toby Jermain

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 50m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 -6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, fat discarded,washed,patted dry,and cut in bite-size pieces
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract (if you can find it, optional, but a great flavor addition)
2 teaspoons grated lemons, zest of, yellow part only
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
nonstick cooking spray
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 lb sliced, cleaned mushrooms or 2 (6 ounce) jars canned mushroom slices, drained
2 -3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 (16 ounce) jar healthy choice four-cheese alfredo sauce or 1 (16 ounce) jar mushroom alfredo sauce (or other purchased low-fat Alfredo sauce)
4 -5 cups cooked rotini pasta or 4 -5 cups other short pasta, cooked in boiling salted water until al dente and drained (see text, below regarding timing)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (to garnish) (optional)

Steps:

  • Rub chicken breasts with lemon oil, if using.
  • Sprinkle both sides with lemon zest, pepper, and granulated garlic, and set aside for 15-minutes for flavor to develop.
  • Start to heat salted water to cook the pasta, but don't cook it until you start to make the sauce.
  • Spray a large, nonstick skillet with nonstick spray, add olive oil, and place over medium heat.
  • When hot, add chicken, and cook until done, but still springy to the touch, and lightly browned on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
  • Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
  • If using fresh mushrooms, add to pan, increase heat to high, and cook for about 5 minutes.
  • Remove mushrooms from pan using a slotted spatula, leaving juice behind.
  • If not using fresh mushrooms, drain all excess oil from pan, leaving browned bits in pan.
  • Reduce heat to medium if necessary.
  • Add pasta to boiling water.
  • Add lemon juice to skillet, and deglaze the pan, scraping up all browned bits from cooking chicken.
  • Add mustard and Alfredo sauce, and stir until combined.
  • Simmer until heated through.
  • Stir in chicken and mushrooms, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low until pasta is done.
  • Serve sauce over pasta and chicken.
  • Sprinkle with parsley if desired.
  • Serves 4.
  • Note!!!! Ingredient should be LEMON OIL, not extract. Recipezaar recipe software changed it to extract and will not let me make the correction. Sorry about that!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 562.2, Fat 4.7, SaturatedFat 0.9, Cholesterol 68.4, Sodium 130.1, Carbohydrate 83.8, Fiber 4.9, Sugar 4.2, Protein 44.8

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