Bruschetta Chicken Orecchiette Pasta is a light and healthy dish, perfect for spring or summer. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are coated with a balsamic vinegar sauce and cooked in a skillet, topped with a fresh bruschetta mixture and paired with orecchiette pasta.

BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN ORECCHIETTE PASTA

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for spring and warmer temperatures. I want to look out my window and see green grass, flowers blooming, birds flying by and my kids outside running around. I might not be able to make spring appear or change the weather but I can start to add more spring and summer inspired recipes to my rotation.

This Bruschetta Chicken Orecchiette Pasta is the perfect transition to spring cooking. It is a light and healthy meal that mixes fresh Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and red onion as the topping for juicy, balsamic chicken breasts and is paired with one of my favorite pastas, orecchiette.

When I think of bruschetta I think of spring and summer. There is something about those light and fresh flavors that just screams warm weather. For this recipe I made a big batch of the bruschetta mixture and used it to both top the chicken and toss in the pasta. I rubbed each chicken breast with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil sauce and then cooked them in a skillet. The balsamic vinegar gives the chicken a sweet, delicious flavor. I also drizzled a balsamic glaze over the finished chicken and pasta because I love balsamic that much and I think it looks really pretty.

When Just BARE Chicken asked me to create a recipe using their Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

I knew just the recipe to make, Bruschetta Chicken Orecchiette Pasta. These hand-trimmed organic chicken breasts make eating more sustainably easy and tasty. The product is environmentally friendly with no unwanted fat and carries the USDA Organic certified seal. The chickens are vegetable and grain fed, have access to outdoors, and are raised with No Antibiotics—Ever, added hormones or artificial ingredients. You can feel good about feeding this chicken to your family and friends.

What I love most about using Just BARE chicken is supporting a brand with a strong mission and vision when it comes to their products. Their definition of good citizenship is made up of the “4 Ps” of social value: People, Poultry, Planet and Progress—all interdependent elements where the wellbeing of one impacts the vitality of the others. Their goal is raising goodness in all areas while balancing the need for economic Progress. I can get on board with that!

I love cooking with chicken breasts because the product is so versatile and can be used in so many ways from this Greek Chicken with Tzatziki Orzo Salad to this One Pot Chicken Enchilada Pasta to this 4 Ingredient Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken.

Chicken breasts work perfectly prepared as a whole chicken breast, diced up for pasta, or shredded for tacos.  During the summer one of our favorite ways to use chicken breasts is on the grill. If you marinate your chicken breasts overnight it helps keep all of the juices in when the chicken is grilled. Juicy, tender chicken is what we want, right?

As we approach the warmer months and summer entertaining is in full swing keep this Bruschetta Chicken Orecchiette Pasta recipe in mind. It is sure to impress your guests’ taste buds and look beautiful on your table!

Yield: 3-4 servings

Bruschetta Chicken Orecchiette Pasta

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Bruschetta Chicken Orecchiette Pasta is a light and healthy dish, perfect for spring or summer. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are coated with a balsamic vinegar sauce and cooked in a skillet, topped with a fresh bruschetta mixture and paired with orecchiette pasta.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

For the bruschetta topping:

• 3 Roma tomatoes, seeds removed, diced {about 2 cups}
• 1/3 cup chopped red onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup freshly chopped basil
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

For the chicken breasts:

• 2 Tablespoons + 2 teaspoons olive oil {divided}
• 3 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound Just BARE Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

For the pasta:

• 8 ounces orecchiette pasta, cooked according to package
• 6 ounces fresh spinach
• 3 Tablespoons reserved pasta water

Garnish:

• More fresh basil
• Parmesan cheese
• Mozzarella cheese {you could try buffalo mozzarella}
• Fresh parsley

Instructions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the Roma tomatoes, red onion, garlic, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Set aside.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine 2 teaspoons olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, dried basil, salt and pepper and whisk together. Place the chicken breasts in a shallow baking dish or plate. Using a brush coat each side of the chicken breasts with the balsamic olive oil mixture.
3. In a large pot, cook the orecchiette pasta according to the package.
4. While the pasta cooks, heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sauté for 8 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook an additional 6 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken breasts are cooked through and no longer pink, or reach an internal temperature of 165ºF. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place on a plate.
5. Drain the pasta and return to a large skillet. Add the fresh spinach and reserved pasta water and let cook until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Add 3/4 cup of the bruschetta mixture to the pasta and gently toss. When ready to serve, place a large spoonful of the pasta in a bowl, top with a chicken breast and a 1/4 cup of the bruschetta mixture. Garnish with a balsamic glaze, fresh basil and parsley and cheese of your choice.

Notes

You can use whatever tomatoes you have on hand, but I tend to think Roma tomatoes work great. Sometimes I even use cherry tomatoes cut in half which work great.

You can add cheese to this recipe-try parmesan or buffalo mozzarella.

Thanks to Just Bare Chicken for sponsoring todays post. As always, opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that allow me to create new recipes.