Marinated Chicken & Basil Whole Wheat Greek Pasta
- January 7, 2019
- 4 Comments
Are you looking for an easy, healthy meal that the whole family will enjoy? Try this Marinated Chicken & Basil Whole Wheat Greek Pasta dish! It’s also perfect for meal prep and only 319 calories per serving!
How’s everyone adjusting to the New Year?? Me? Well I’m sticking with my goal to making my life easier and less chaotic! So far that’s been working out pretty good! I’ve bought myself a new planner and I’ve been sticking to a fairly easy, stress-free schedule!
I have also stayed on track with making easier meals, such as this Marinated Chicken & Basil Whole Wheat Greek Pasta dish! I was completely inspired by the Friday’s Special Pasta dish from Taziki’s! I absolutely LOVE that pasta, but it’s not always in the budget to buy it every day, so I decided to make my own!
Here are a few more recipes that I know you’ll love!
- Southwest Chicken Avocado Ranch Pasta
- Creamy Tomato Pasta Skillet
- Garlicky One Pot Tuscan Chicken & Spinach
Because I have eaten this pasta several times, I was familiar with the flavors. I knew that the recipe contained balsamic vinaigrette, basil, feta, tomatoes, whole wheat pasta, and of course chicken so that’s exactly what I bought!
And because I am such a huge garlic fan, I knew that I wanted to add it to my recipe. I started off by marinating my chicken in a fat free balsamic vinaigrette and minced garlic. As my chicken was marinating, I cooked my whole wheat pasta per the package directions.
I love using whole wheat products because it has so many wonderful health benefits! Did you know that whole wheat contains many nutrients including fiber, B vitamins, and minerals? Fiber from whole grains can help to reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower the risk of heart disease. Fiber is also important for a healthy functioning bowel and helps to reduce constipation.
Once my whole wheat pasta was cooked and drained, I cooked my marinated chicken and cut it into pieces. I also chopped up my tomato and fresh basil. I added all of the ingredients to my pasta, including a hefty serving of balsamic vinaigrette and feta. I also added some salt and pepper to my taste.
Before I served this Marinated Chicken & Basil Whole Wheat Greek Pasta, I sprinkled a little more basil on top! It was unbelievable! It actually tasted better than my favorite pasta dish! I think it was because I marinated the chicken before cooking it! The bold flavors of the balsamic vinaigrette and feta really brought this dish to life!
The shocking part was that my 4-year-old son ate it and loved it! He’s very particular about what he eats, so I was thrilled that he enjoyed it! Besides being delicious, this Marinated Chicken & Basil Whole Wheat Greek Pasta is low in fat an only 319 calories for one hefty, delicious serving!
And if you love this recipe, I know you’ll love these:
- Southwest Chicken Avocado Ranch Pasta
- Creamy Tomato Pasta Skillet
- Garlicky One Pot Tuscan Chicken & Spinach
Marinated Chicken & Basil Whole Wheat Greek Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
- 6 cups baby spinach or arugula
- 2 and 1/4 cups fat free balsamic vinaigrette
- 16 oz whole wheat penne pasta cooked and drained
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 large tomato diced
- 2 tbsp fresh basil minced
- ½ cup reduced fat feta
- salt/pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add chicken breast, minced garlic, and ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette. Let sit for about 10-15 minutes.
- In a large skillet, on medium heat, add 2 tbsp of oil and chicken breast. Cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side until chicken is thoroughly cooked throughout. Once chicken is cooked, removed from heat and cut into pieces.
- In a large bowl, add pasta, chicken, diced tomatoes, basil, feta, and the rest of the balsamic vinaigrette. Toss until all ingredients are combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- To serve, spread the baby spinach (or arugula) on a large platter and scoop pasta on top. Sprinkle additional basil and feta on top, if desired.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Did you make this?
I’d love to know! Please let me know by leaving a review below. Or snap a photo and share it on Instagram; be sure to tag me @beautifuleatsandthings
Did you cook the whole box of pasta? I like this recipe and want to give it to patients at work. I want to make sure I understand the measurements before I start handing the recipe out to patients. Thank you!
Yes, I cooked the whole box of pasta. It’s such a tasty recipe and thanks so much for sharing it with your patients!!
Awesome, thank you!