My kids can definitely be very picky eaters. It can be very difficult to get any type of vegetables or protein in them. So I am always on the search for family friendly meals everyone will like to help get us all to the table together. Recently I created a great recipe that does just that. This wonderful family friendly meal is perfect for family lunches or those busy weekday evenings. The Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Marinara Pasta is quick and easy, helping you to get the whole family sitting down for a meal together.
Even on busy days I want to still make a healthy and flavorful meal that everyone in the house will enjoy. I adapted an old recipe of my grandmother’s to my busy schedule. The recipe incorporates grilled chicken, colorful peppers, and onion into a homemade marinara sauce. The sauce and chicken is poured over vegetable pasta and topped with Parmesan cheese.
I wanted to make this recipe for my kids and see what they thought of it and I planned to make this for lunch before the NFL play-off games. I went shopping at Walmart to pick up all the ingredients so we’d be set. I love using Tyson Grilled & Ready chicken because it simplifies and speeds up the meal, and brings out the perfect flavor. I don’t have time to grill chicken on our BBQ before the meal, especially in the dead of winter. So I trust Tyson to do it for me, and they do it perfectly. With the chicken already pre-cooked I can drastically cut down the cooking time.
- 1 pound uncooked veggie pasta
- 4 Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Grilled Breast Fillets
- 1½ Bell Pepper – various colors, chopped
- ½ Onion – chopped
- 16oz Tomato Paste
- 16oz Water
- Dash of Oregano
- Dash of Garlic Powder
- Chop the peppers and onion to small pieces. Cut the chicken into small strips. Saute the chicken for two minutes to warm the chicken, then add the peppers and onions. Saute the mixture until soft.
- Add tomato paste and water. Season with Oregano and Garlic powder to taste. Simmer over medium heat until the sauce is the desired consistency.
- Boil pasta as directed and drain. Pour sauce mixture over noodles and serve.
Cooking is a great time to get the whole family involved. My helpers enjoy grabbing ingredients for me, peeling, sorting, mixing, and much more while they are in the kitchen. Not only does it keep them entertained, but it also gives them an appreciation and enjoyment of what you cook. I’ve found my kids are much more likely to eat something if they helped make it.
In this recipe I use several different colors of peppers, although its not necessary. To not waste food I use the remaining portions of peppers and onions in omelets the next morning. I also try to make enough of a meal to have in school and work lunches the next day. This pasta works great in the kids’ lunches for school and it much better than the same old sandwich every day.
Owen tries it…
And he likes it!
Before the big football game we all sat down to enjoy a nice family meal. My boys definitely were loving it. I was so happy when they scarfed the food down and I didn’t have any arguing, complaining, or bargaining during our meal. Instead we could spend the whole meal together visiting and enjoying each others company. Thank you Tyson for getting us all to the table together.
For a detailed look at my shopping trip, check out my Google Plus album! Also, you can come learn more about Tyson Grilled & Ready on their website, Facebook, and Twitter at #MealsTogether! These are a staple in our house and we can’t get enough of them. I love the taste and how they can simplify my meals so I have no problem getting everyone to the table together even on the busiest days.
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Tyson. #cbias #SocialFabric #MealsTogether
Don’t you just love pre-cooked chicken! I like using it in soup too. This looks like a great recipe for a busy night. Thanks for sharing!
The meal looks delicious! I really like your concept of the kids buying more into eating foods that they help to create. I run my kids out of the kitchen most of the time and my littlest is incredibly picky. I should really adapt this philosophy and start inviting him in more to help to see if this sparks his interest in eating new foods. Thanks!
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That looks delicious!
this looks very good thankss
YUMMY!! thanks for sharing yet another great recipe!!
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I love your creativity, and the expressions on your childrens faces lol. I think this looks great and I want to try it out on my daughter who swears she hates peppers, which is strange to me since her dad and I love them.
That looks tasty! I love pastas & chicken & I’m going to try this for sure. Thanks!