Every had one of those super productive days…only to forget one very important thing on your to-do list.
That thing: Make dinner.
Eeps! That’s what happened to me tonight. I scurried around all day, catching up on Mt. Washmore (yes, we have been home for 10 days and I still haven’t caught up on laundry from the Savvy Blogging Summit!), helping the boys with a new puzzle and reading their new book to them approximately 18 times, answering emails, making important behind-the-scenes decisions, picking up little pieces of fuzz from the floor that Tyler seems to be so attracted to these days, watering the garden, building tents and forts with sheets, chairs and couch cushions, send out a few tweets, maybe a facebook status update…
So I look up at the clock…5:25.
What?!? How’d that happen?!
Thankfully, I had some diced grilled chicken in the freezer, some cooked turkey bacon in the freezer, along with a box of frozen spinach. And in the time that it took to cook the pasta, I had the chicken, bacon and spinach thawed, warmed and ready to toss with the pasta. I even had a second to grab some fresh basil, oregano and thyme from the garden…just enough to give the additional umph to the pasta!
So what’s missing from this here florentine pasta…a cream sauce! I went for the lower cal (and easier) drizzle of olive oil. 🙂 And I’m glad I did!
Loved the light-ness of the dish, the flavor boost from the garden herbs, and the smokiness of the grilled chicken. Now, enjoy!
Chicken and Bacon Florentine Pasta
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pasta noodles, such as mostacchioli, rotini, medium shells ($.92)
- 2 cups grilled, diced chicken ($1.50)
- 4 slices turkey bacon, chopped ($.25) (Try cooking bacon in the oven.)
- 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes ($.16)
- 1 box frozen spinach ($.50) $1 sale plus coupon
- Fresh basil, oregano, thyme from the garden
- 2 Tbsp olive oil ($.20)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Cook bacon and chicken, if necessary.
- Cook the spinach according to package instructions.
- Wash and chop basil, oregano and thyme from the garden.
- Toss all the ingredients together with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve Chicken and Bacon Florentine (without the cheese) Pasta.
Need more than this one-dish meal? Add a garden salad.
Got a plethora of tomatoes from the garden? Use those instead of canned.
Want a creamier pasta? Thin some sour cream with some milk and replace that with the olive oil.
Cost $3.53
Jennifer says
Oh how I can relate! Doing everything known to man and then forgetting one teensy detail — dinner. Arggh. Great post!
Dana McCleland says
Sounds so yummy!! Wish we were having that instead of sloppy joes!!!
Cupcake Mommie (Jessica) says
We are loving the available grilled chicken–right from the freezer. I threw together grilled chicken, veggies, and lettuce with dressing and we had at it! It was so good. The chicken tastes like it is right off the grill!
Toddler Boy Clothing says
That looks delicious! Again, you take great pictures!
Angela says
Sounds good! But I will, alas, have to substitute the “real thing” in the bacon department. I tried out some turkey bacon on my bacon-loving 9-year-old. He says he can’t eat it; calls it “junk strips”! Still makes me laugh.
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
@Angela,
That is too funny Angela!!!
lynn @ Maven of Savin says
OMG!! How easy – I am so excited to try this – I have all those things – WOOO HOOO!! The 5:25pm thing is ME everyday…
FoodontheTable says
Great recipe! You can’t go wrong with spinach & bacon.
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
@FoodontheTable,
That’s right! 1 of my favorite flavor combinations!
Stephanie says
This sounds awesome! I think I am going to try it on my Oct menu plan, and maybe toss in some crumbled Feta since those Mediterranean flavors all play so nicely together.