Zucchini Chicken Pasta

If you are lucky enough to have a garden full of zucchini, this is a great recipe for a quick summer dinner. And even if you buy your zucchini at the supermarket, it still tastes great!

Zucchini-Chicken Pasta

2 cups dry pasta (shells or other substantial shape like rotini or farfalle)
1 Tb. olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, sliced
3 medium (4 small) zucchini, chopped (about 6 cups)
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, optional
1/2 to 3/4 cup chicken broth
1-1/2 cup chopped cooked chicken
1 small can diced green chiles
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta in boiling, lightly salted water for 8-10 minutes until al dente; drain. 

Heat olive oil in a large skillet and cook onion and garlic until tender. Mix in zucchini, oregano, salt, pepper, and the red pepper flakes. Cook 5-10 minutes until the zucchini is tender. 

Stir broth into skillet, then mix in the chicken and chiles, and heat thoroughly. Add the cream cheese and cook 5 minutes more. It may seem just a bit soupy, but the pasta tends to soak up some of the moisture. Serve over cooked pasta and top with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Serves 10. Without the parmesan cheese, the recipe only has about 225 calories per serving (and that's even with the cream cheese!) If you use light cream cheese, it will have even fewer calories.

You can substitute 2 cans of chicken for the chicken and broth; pour in the whole can, broth and all. You can also substitute dried spices instead of using fresh spices, if you don't have them on hand. And one more: you can substitute crookneck or summer squash for the zucchini.

Melinda's notes: Three years ago, Allison had a beautiful basil plant that grew so big, I needed to find recipes with fresh basil in them. This recipe is a result of one of those searches. After making a few changes, this recipe is the result. Believe it or not, every child in our family will eat this! We have even used this as a camping recipe, for just our family, and also for our assigned meal at the big family reunion!