Confetti Chicken Pasta

I came across this dish on pinterest and it looked awesome! I really LOVED the flavor in this dish and will definitely make it again. Next time I think I will play around with pre-cooking my asparagus though, that would have been my only complaint with this dish.

I found this recipe HERE

Veggies & Pasta

16 oz. of Whole Wheat Penne Pasta
2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut in 1″ cubes
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
½ c. Onion, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, long thin slices
1 c. Broccoli florets
1 c. Asparagus, chopped in 1″ pieces (here I would have cooked mine somehow different)
1 c. Grape tomatoes, sliced in 1/2 or 1/4

Cook your pasta and let it drain.   Sprinkle the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken until done and golden on all sides. Remove and let rest in a large bowl.

Add the remaining olive oil and begin sauteing the onions for 2 min. Add in the garlic and bell pepper and saute another 2 mins. Then toss in the broccoli and asparagus, saving the tomatoes until the very end.

When everything is cooked, combine the veggies with the chicken in your big bowl. Now its time for the sauce!

Spicy Cream Sauce

2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
2 c. half & half
1/4 tsp. of red pepper flakes (I only sprinkled a few in since we are wusses when it comes to spicy food at our house!)
1 c. Parmesan cheese 

In the same pan you cooked the chicken and veggies in, melt the butter over medium heat. Toss in the flour and stir, cooking 1-2 minutes. 

Slowly add in the half and half while stirring to prevent any clumps from forming.  Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and allow to simmer until you see boiling action.  Stir periodically.

When your sauce begins to thicken and bubble, turn off the heat and add in your cheese. Stir until all melts together.

Add sauce to noodles then toss with chicken/vegetable mixture.