Creamy Olive Chicken Bake With Red Peppers and Mushrooms
photo by ByNDii
- Ready In:
- 1hr 15mins
- Ingredients:
- 17
- Serves:
-
8
ingredients
- 1 lb whole wheat pasta (penne or similar)
- 3 cups cooked chicken breasts
- 2 large red bell peppers, diced
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 cups cremini mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 onion (large and cut in half and then thin sliced)
- 15 ounces kalamata olives (1 can diced fine)
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1⁄2 cups parmigiano-reggiano cheese (for the sauce, 1 cup for the garnish)
- 1 1⁄2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1⁄4 cup fresh basil
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons salt (1 for the pasta, 1 for the vegetables, 1 for the chicken)
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper (1 for the sauce, 1 for the chicken)
directions
- Chicken -- Lets make the chicken. In a large pan add some olive oil 1 tablespoon should be good, salt and pepper and just saute the chicken just a couple of minutes till cooked 1/2 way and golden brown on high heat, but don't over cook. It will continue to bake in the oven. Once the chicken is nice and brown, should take 5-8 minutes remove, set to the side and cover.
- Vegetables -- To that same pan, add a little more olive oil if needed and add the garlic, onion and crimini mushrooms and cook until golden brown and soft but still not all the way cooked. Add some salt and pepper and cook 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl with the chicken and keep covered.
- Bechemel sauce -- Add the butter in a large pot and melt on medium heat. Add the flour and mix well and cook another minute. Add the cream and milk and cook until thick. Add the olives, parmesan and some ground black pepper to taste and set to the side as the pasta finishes cooking.
- Pasta -- According to directions Drain and toss with the bowl that has the chicken and the grilled vegetables. Pour the olive sauce over the top, add the grated cheese and fresh basil and toss well.
- Baking -- Pour in a 13x9 casserole dish sprayed with pam or greased lightly, topped with the 1 cup parm for a garnish, and cook at 375 for 30 minutes uncovered until nice and brown on top and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
SarasotaCook
Sarasota, Florida
<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>