So for my last vegetarian post of April…screw it! I’m sorry but I really miss meat! So Firecracker Chicken and Avocado Pasta it is!! I have actually enjoyed my vegetarian inspired meals but let’s face it…I want to eat some meats!
I am really looking forward to bringing back meat into my blog posts! So much, that I could not wait another day! Don’t get me wrong, I will definitely be making a lot of my vegetarian items again and I am addicted to my vegetarian pizza…it was so tasty!! But I just need a taste of juicy chicken to accompany my pasta tonight! And this chicken was absolutely delish! So moist and juicy and full of flavor!
This recipe will be a new favorite! It is quick and easy, but a new twist on classic spaghetti. My husband likes his food more on the spicy side so he added sriracha sauce to his noodles. And it tasted amaaazing as well! So if you like your food on the spicy side, I would consider adding in a little sriracha sauce.
This avocado pasta is actually a quick and easy recipe. I first prepped the chicken and got that in the oven and then focused on the pasta which can be finished by the time the chicken is removed from the oven! Drumroll please…………..you have another 30-minute meal to add to your recipe box! In years past, my spaghetti making routines involved boil some pasta>brown some hamburger>dump in a jar of pre-made spaghetti sauce>and voila…supper! I was always satisfied with the end product UNTIL I recently began making my own marinara sauce. It is a night and day difference friends! Adding the fresh garlic and basil just makes a world of difference and if you have not tried my homemade pasta sauce, I would give it a whirl. You will not be disappointed! And yes, I have already added this avocado pasta sauce to my list of favorites.
My husband and I do have opposite tastes-I like little salt, lots of flavor, and usually prefer to eat on the healthy side whereas my husband likes a lot of salt, still enjoys lots of flavor, and let’s just say if he had it his way all of the time (which he pretty much does 😉 ) he would eat the least healthy food he could possibly find. No joke people! That is why he picked me to marry, so I can coach him every day and make sure he does not have a cholesterol of 300! And avocados help to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Yes, avocados are high in fat BUT it is the good monounsaturated fats that are in olive oil. I am so sneaky, huh!
Firecracker Chicken and Avocado Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 avocados
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1/2 lemon squeezed or 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup pecans
- 4 basil leaves
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Oil baking dish with Pam.
- Oil chicken with Pam or non-stick spray. Then lightly season chicken with Traeger Premium Quality Chicken Rub and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Add 5 drops of sriracha sauce on each breast and spread over top of chicken breast with a spoon.
- Bake chicken at 350 for 23-25 minutes depending on thickness of chicken breasts. I had fairly thick chicken breasts and my chicken was done at 23 minutes.
- In a large pot of boiling and salted water, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well. I cooked my spaghetti for 10 minutes and it was perfect.
- While pasta is cooking, add garlic, avocados, spinach, lemon juice, pecans, basil, water, and salt to a food processor and blend until sauce is smooth and creamy. You may want to add more water if you think necessary, but I did not need to. Add sriracha sauce now as well if using.
- In a large bowl, toss pasta with avocado sauce and combine. Serve with chicken on top immediately.
- This recipe will be best the day of preparation because avocados do turn brown.
- Enjoy!!
- Source: 3 Scoops of Sugar
Love,
3 Scoops of Sugar 🙂
