Cheesy chicken pasta with zucchini and peas

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A fresh, light chicken pasta dinner with zucchini, peas and two cheeses. Ready in just 20 minutes and very budget-friendly!

This may have been one of the best holiday seasons yet. The husband and I got to get away to Aruba for a few days to celebrate his birthday, we returned to Christmas celebrations, had tons of family pass through town over the past couple of weeks and the kiddos were very into Santa this year, so that made it all seem more magical and joyous. #blessed

And now it’s winding down and I can’t believe we are at the end of the year. Mostly in a shocked way. Cause I wouldn’t change much about this past year and I’m super excited for everything that’s coming our way in 2016. #soveryblessed

I’m also ready to slow it way back down on the food front. We have eaten so well these past few weeks and had so many special dinners and occasions to celebrate with family and friends — not to mention all the cookies and treats — but I’m missing my simple, healthy, home cooked meals and I’ll be glad to get back to them (after the last few parties and New Years celebrations over the next few days!)

In the plans for that first week of January is one of my go-to, easy, fast, budget-friendly chicken pasta dinners. Serious goodness going on here, you guys.

It’s got zucchini and peas, which just pair so perfectly in my book. (And I can find them easily all year long. I’m never without a bag of frozen peas in the freezer.) Beyond those veggies, we’ve got whole wheat pasta, rotisserie chicken (from the store, or leftover if you’ve got some extra on hand) and two cheeses. It’s always a good idea to double up when it comes to things like cheese.

It’s light, bright and fresh with the lovely stretchy cheeses that work their way around the pan to grab hold of the veggies and chicken and pasta and bring everything together. You can’t give me a fork big enough.

And everything else for this dish is ready by the time the pasta cooks, so it’s super fast. I make the whole batch, even if it’s just the two of us for a late dinner, and we all enjoy the leftovers for lunch or dinner later in the week.

Here’s to a happy, healthy, family-filled New Year! Enjoy!

Cheesy pasta with rotisserie chicken, zucchini and peas

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Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Total Time 20 minutes

Serves 4-6 servings     adjust servings

A fresh, light 20-minute chicken pasta dinner with zucchini, peas and two cheeses!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. whole wheat pasta (I use penne or rigatoni)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil plus 1 tablespoon for drizzling (optional)
• 1 cup onion, diced small
• 2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced in 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 3/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (skin removed)
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or more to your liking)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and zucchini and saute for 3-4 minutes, until slightly tender. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
3. Add the garlic and saute for another 30 seconds.
4. Add the chopped cooked chicken and the frozen peas and stir to heat through, 1-2 minutes.
5. Reduce heat to low.
6. When pasta is finished cooking, reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid and drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the skillet along with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid.
7. Add cheeses and stir to combine. Stir in extra splashes of the reserved cooking liquid, if needed, to help everything combine.
8. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, taste and adjust seasoning.
9. Drizzle with extra tablespoon of olive oil, if desired. Serve with extra Parmesan cheese for passing.

Recipe Notes

If your skillet isn’t big enough to hold everything (and be able to stir it), add the pasta and other ingredients back to the big pot you cooked the pasta in.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per Serving	As Served
Calories 692kcal Calories from fat 176
% Daily Value
Total Fat 20g	31%
Saturated Fat 8g	40%
Transfat 0g
Cholesterol 77mg	26%
Sodium 780mg	33%
Carbohydrate 97g	32%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Sugars 6g
Protein 39g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories	2000
Total Fat	Less than	65g
Sat Fat	Less than	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g
Dietary Fiber		25g