Help with dinner??

[disney_me]

ok here is what I have:

1 lbs ground chicken
1 box of bow tie pasta
1 fresh zucchini
onion
garlic
and EVOO

Looking for a great way to combined all. I am trying to stay on my $100.00 a week food budget and need some help with new recipes !!

 

[thegrimdwarf]

Cook the pasta to very al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.

Brown the chicken, set aside. Shred the zucchini while the chicken is browning (like on a cheese grater). Add olive oil to the same pan you browned the chicken in; saute garlic and onion til translucent. Add the zucchini, saute 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken back to the pan, reheat, and then add the hot pasta and about 1/2 the pasta water. Toss, adding more pasta water if it seems dry. If you have any parm cheese, throw a ton in at this point. Top with fresh parsley, if you have it.

I make this meal about once/week (usually with chicken breast instead of ground). Always a hit!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

If you have an maranara sauce (doesn't everyone???) heres my recipe:

ZUCCHINI & ONION:

Cut up the zucchini in 1/4 to 1/2 inch rounds
Cut onion into 1 in rounds
Brush EVOO on both sides of zucchini and onion
Salt and pepper both sides to taste
But them on a grill pan on medium high (if you don't have a grill pan, just use a regular pan, or get on that BBQ!) for 3-5 minutes then flip - cook for another 2-4 minutes.

MEAT:

Chop up 2 cloves of garlic
Put some EVOO in a grill pan, on med heat, and put in chopped garlic
Put in ground chicken
COOK THROUGH!
Pour in pasta sauce

PASTA:
Just cook it!


Plate your pasta, put the meat sauce on it, and then the zucchini and onion on top - I totally LOVE grilled zucchini and onion, so..... CAN I COME OVER AND HAVE SOME TOO???

Have a good dinner!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Cook the pasta to very al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.

Brown the chicken, set aside. Shred the zucchini while the chicken is browning (like on a cheese grater). Add olive oil to the same pan you browned the chicken in; saute garlic and onion til translucent. Add the zucchini, saute 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken back to the pan, reheat, and then add the hot pasta and about 1/2 the pasta water. Toss, adding more pasta water if it seems dry. If you have any parm cheese, throw a ton in at this point. Top with fresh parsley, if you have it.

I make this meal about once/week (usually with chicken breast instead of ground). Always a hit!

Just a question - Would you have to squeeze the zucchini after graiting it like that? I know it has a lot of water, and I would think without doing that, it would make everything to.... watery - no?? I love zucchini, and I'm always looking for new ways to make it!

 

[disney_me]

Thanks, they sound great!! How about some more cheap, quick dinner ideas??

 

[thegrimdwarf]

Just a question - Would you have to squeeze the zucchini after graiting it like that? I know it has a lot of water, and I would think without doing that, it would make everything to.... watery - no?? I love zucchini, and I'm always looking for new ways to make it!

I don't squeeze, but I do let it sit on some paper towels until I need it. You could squeeze if you wanted - but since you need to add pasta water for the sauce anyway, I don't worry about it.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I would pry try to make meatballs with the meat, garlic, onion and zucchini... then cook separately, from pasta/ sauce, combine all after its done cooking.