Creamy Chicken and Sausage Pasta

Ok, I must admit I splurged a little with this dish! I made up for it with whole wheat pasta and loading it with veggies though ;) Truthfully, if you don't allow yourself to splurge every now and then, you're asking for a binge session! Moderation is key, and using simple substitutions can really save you from splurging too much.

My family loved this pasta! I made enough to send everyone with leftovers the next day, so if you want to make a smaller portion, I would cut the recipe in half because this makes enough to feed a small army! Also, this dish would be great served fra diavolo style, add in some red pepper flakes if you like it spicy! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed


• 1 package smoked sausage, sliced and quartered (you can substitute turkey sausage for a lower fat/caloric content)


• 1 large yellow or red bell pepper, julienne cut


• 1 medium sweet yellow onion, julienne cut


• 2 medium zucchini's, sliced and quartered


• 1 pint crimini mushrooms, sliced


• 2 garlic cloves, minced


• 1 jar veggie, mushroom or spinach spaghetti sauce (you're looking for it to be loaded with veggies)


• 1 jar tomato basil Philadelphia cooking creme (you can substitute 1 block of softened lowfat cream cheese for a lower fat content)


• olive oil


• sea salt and fresh black pepper


• basil and garlic seasoning


• 1 package whole wheat penne pasta (prepare as directed for al dente pasta)

Heat a saute pan to medium heat, coat your pan with olive oil. Season your chicken breasts with salt, pepper and basil & garlic seasoning, add chicken to hot pan and cook until golden brown and cooked through, add sausage just before chicken is done. Once sausage is heated through, drain meat and set aside in a large bowl. In the same pan, add more olive oil, season your veggies with salt and pepper and saute your peppers, onions and zucchini until vegetables are fork tender and caramelized, add mushrooms and garlic and saute for an additional 2-3 minutes, being careful not to burn garlic. Add cooked veggies to your chicken and sausage, set aside. In the same pan heat your cooking cream and tomato sauce, being sure to scrape up the delicious brown bits on the bottom of the pan, this will put the flavor of your sauce over the top! Simmer the sauce for a few minutes allowing the flavors to meld, pour sauce over meat and veggie mixture, add pasta, mix carefully, top with parmesan cheese. Serve with some whole wheat rolls to soak up the creamy, delicious sauce, yum!