Creamy Basil & Red Pepper Pasta

photo by:kraft

Don't panic. 6:00 sneaks up on all of us. Chicken in creamy pureed roasted red pepper sauce served over pasta are a lifesaver any night of the week.

time

prep:

10 min

total:

25 min

servings

total:

4 servings, 1-1/2 cups each

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What You Need

cups penne pasta, uncooked

jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers, well drained

oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Fat Free Cream Cheese, softened

1/2

cup fresh basil

1/4

cup fat-free milk

Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

Make It

COOK pasta as directed on package.

MEANWHILE, blend all remaining ingredients except chicken in blender until smooth. Cook chicken in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 3 min. or until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Stir in pepper puree; simmer on medium heat 5 min. or until chicken is done and mixture is heated through, stirring frequently.

DRAIN pasta. Add to chicken mixture; mix lightly.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute

Prepare using whole wheat or multi-grain pasta.

Substitute

If fresh basil is not available, use Italian (flat leaf) parsley instead.

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jen-ren210

posted:6/24/2008

We use gnocchi (small Italian dumplings) instead of penne pasta for this recipe. What a wonderful combination of flavors! I also like to use a 12 oz. jar of peppers, and a little more milk and parmesan cheese. I also add a splash of white wine to the sauce. This has become a favorite at our house. It is soooo delicious, and really quick and easy! Leftovers are just as wonderful.

a cook

posted:6/12/2008

My kids and I thought this was very yummy. I added some garlic and pepper to the sauce and marinated the chicken in Italian dressing. It was wonderful.

mericks2

posted:6/11/2008

My husband loves this dish. I would agree that you need to add some seasoning to it to kick up the flavor.

mdavis353

posted:6/9/2008

it was very bland even after adding extra seasoning to the chicken...the sauce was way too sweet.....just wasnt good at all.....will not waste time or money on it again.....

tgquinlan

posted:6/5/2008

Delicious! You can always change the pasta for a slightly healthier version (low carb, whole wheat, rice, etc.). I added precooked, frozen grilled chicken, but you could go meatless or add your favorite. For added flavor, you could add minced garlic or cayenne pepper for zip! Otherwise, it's great just the way it is!

KMcB113

posted:4/16/2008

I liked this recipe and it was very easy to make. However, next time I make it I think I will add a little more milk to the sauce because it became dry after leaving it covered for 30 minutes. Also, I would add vegetables to give it more flavor and color.

a cook

posted:3/21/2008

good

kivsquest

posted:3/19/2008

Very nice blend of flavors!

a cook

posted:3/18/2008

I really liked this-except that it wasn't quite flavorful enough. Like all the ingredients blended to well and mellowed one another out. So I'm definitely going to make it again, but I will add more red pepper and maybe some garlic.

arialou

posted:3/6/2008

Easy, filling and good for all!