Chicken Sonora

This is one of my favorite fast and easy recipes. Great to serve when you have company for dinner.

1 pound chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
1/2 package penne or ziti pasta, drained
1 12 oz. jar Alfredo sauce with sun-dried tomatoes
1 16 oz. can black beans
1 10 3/4 ounce can Rotel Tomatoes

Grill or broil chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Boil pasta according to pkg. directions.
Drain Rotel Tomatoes and black beans – rinse beans.
Combine all in a pan and warm through.
Serve with garlic bread and a salad.

Chicken Satay

3 limes
2/3 cup bottled Thai peanut sauce
12 chicken tenders (about 1 lb 4 oz)

1. Heat outdoor grill or ridged grill pan over medium-high heat.
2. Squeeze 1 to 2 limes to get 2 Tbsp juice. Mix with peanut sauce. Pour all but 1/4 cup into a small bowl.
3. Thread 1 chicken tender on each of twelve 10- to 12-in. wooden skewers. Brush both sides of chicken with the 1/4 cup sauce, then lightly coat with nonstick spray.
4. Grill 2 to 3 minutes per side until chicken is cooked through. Serve with lime wedges and remaining sauce for dipping. Garnish with sliced scallions, if desired.

Serves 4

Chicken Quesadillas

2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, mexican blend, shredded
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup salsa
4 flour tortillas

Mix chicken with seasoning mix. Melt 1 tsp. butter in skillet. Place tortilla in preheated skillet, top with chicken and cheese, fold in half. Grill on both sides until lightly toasted and warmed through.

Remove from pan, cut into triangles. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Chicken Marsala

This is super easy and very good!

1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken cutlets
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup pre-diced onions
4 ounces pre-sliced baby portabella mushrooms
1/4 cup Marsala wine
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (.75-ounce) packet mushroom gravy mix

1. Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with thyme. Wash hands.

2. Place oil in pan; swirl to coat. Add onions and mushrooms; cook 3–4 minutes or until tender. Move onions and mushrooms to outer edge of pan. Place chicken in center of pan (wash hands); cook 2–3 minutes on each side until browned.

3. Stir in wine, then add remaining ingredients. Stir until well blended. Reduce heat to low and simmer 6–8 minutes until sauce thickens and internal temperature of chicken reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to accurately ensure doneness. Serve.

Chicken Lasagna Florentine

From Southern Living

2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (6-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup sour cream
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup to 1 cup chopped pecans

Stir together chicken and next 6 ingredients.
Arrange 3 noodles in a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish; top with half of chicken mixture. Repeat layers with remaining noodles and chicken mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and pecans.

Bake, covered, at 350° for 45 minutes; uncover, and bake 15 minutes or until bubbly. Let lasagna stand 15 minutes before serving.

To Make Ahead: Cover and chill. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking; proceed as directed.

To lighten: Substitute reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup, 2% reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, and reduced-fat sour cream.

Yield: Makes 6 servings