Penne with Grilled Chicken and Vodka Sauce

By Dianewaldron

This restaurant favorite is usually made with bucket-loads of heavy cream and butter. We opted to use a little olive oil and half-and-half (lighter than cream), which still gives you a wonderful, creamy texture.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced (1 cup)
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 (26-ounce) low-sodium can diced tomatoes in juice
• 1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 4 cups cooked whole wheat penne pasta
• 3 (4-ounce) grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Details

Servings 6
Cooking time 30mins

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.

Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, 6-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.

Add tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, vodka, and crushed red pepper, then bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce reduces slightly, about 10 minutes.

Add half-and-half, and cook until sauce reduces, 5 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper.

Place 2/3 pasta in a bowl and top with ½ cup vodka sauce.

Arrange 2 ounces grilled chicken on top of pasta and garnish with chopped basil.

Serving size: 2/3 cup pasta, ½ cup sauce, and 2 ounces chicken Calories 360; Fat 6.3g
(sat 1.8g, mono 2.8g, poly 1g); Cholesterol 52mg;Protein 25g; Carbohydrate 39g;
Sugars 7g; Fiber 4g; RS 1g; Sodium 206mg