Chicken Penne in Garlic Sauce

Aromatic, flavorful, and light, this pasta dish is everything you want it to be. Enjoy this restaurant style taste in the comfort of your home with this simple to prepare, but elegant tasting dish.

             There are a few ingredients that make this dish a winner. The first has to do with preparation. This kitchen secret is one I use EVERY time I prepare chicken for juicy chicken that never gets dry! Soak the chicken breasts in two cups of water mixed with a tablespoon of salt for one hour before you start cooking. The second secret to success in this dish is the chicken broth. It maximizes the flavor of the dish without compromising the creaminess of the sauce. And let's not forget the star of the show, garlic! 

Prep Time: 1 hr.             Cooktime: 30 mins.              Yeilds 5 servings

Chicken Penne in Garlic Sauce

Ingredients:

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt and cracked peppercorn to taste

marjoram to taste

1 package of penne

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tbsp butter

1 cup chicken broth

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

parsley and parmesan to garnish

1, Place chicken in a bowl of salt water one hour before preparing dish.

2. Take chicken out of salt water, pat dry, and cube. Season with salt, peppercorn, and marjoram and saute in a medium saucepan on med/high until chicken is cooked all the way through.

3. Bring a pot of water to boil and add penne. Cook to al dente, drain, and set aside.

4. Mince garlic and add to chicken, stirring for 1 minute. 

5. Add butter, chicken broth, and heavy whipping cream to the sauce pan. Bring to a slight boil then turn the heat on low and put a lid on the pan. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes. 

6. Remove the sauce from heat and allow to set for 2-3 minutes to thicken. Pour sauce over noodles and serve. Garnish with parsley and parmesan if desired.

Cooking confession: This was the first dish I cooked with garlic that wasn't powdered or already minced. I had no idea how to get it out of the peel! One time I saw Anne Burrell crack a garlic clove by smacking it with a giant chef's knife and I thought, "Yeah, I can do that"...no. Just no.