Spicy Parmesan Chicken & Pasta Salad

I love Pasta! Who doesn't? And I really like trying different seasonings on chicken. Well one day I decided I wanted to try something new. I hadn't been eating many veggies and wanted to have something that seemed healthier and came up with this creation. When I sat down to eat it, my previous roommate and her mom looked at my plate and said "What is that?" Since then a few people have tried this creation and really enjoyed it. I hope you will also. It's a little different but it's pretty simple and definitely tasty.

Prep and Cooking Time: 30 mins
Spicy Level: Mild

Ingredients & Seasoning for Chicken & Pasta:
Boneless Chicken breast (1 per person usually)
Olive Oil or butter - to cook the chicken in
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Garlic powder
Minced Garlic bits (optional)
Spaghetti or angel hair pasta
Salt
Ground or Crushed Black Pepper
Crushed Red Pepper (for a little spice!)
Onion or onion powder

Salad Ingredients:
These are very flexible. I recommend the veggies I usually use with this salad but you can make your salad all your own.

Spinach leaves or Salad Mix of choice
Carrots
Cucumber
Snap Peas
Orange, Red or Yellow Bell Pepper
Tomatoes
Ken's Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing (my preferred brand but another Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing may be used if desired)

Directions:


1. Sprinkle or season chicken with garlic powder, onion powder (or use fresh onion if desire), Minced Garlic, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and Grated Parmesan Cheese. (How much is up to you. I am usually pretty generous with my seasonings (except salt) but remember you can always add more but it's a lot harder to take away.) I always try to season both sides.

Here's a pic of my cooked seasoned chicken:

2. Boil water in a pot for your spaghetti. Most boxes, bags of spaghetti will tell you how long to cook them. And if you want to know if your spaghetti is ready. You can always pull out a strand and throw it at the wall fast. It should stick to the wall if ready. Or feel a piece to see if it's the right softness or eat a strand. You should be able to tell by either of these ways. Most spaghetti takes around 8-10 mins.
2. Cook the chicken breasts in oil or buttered pan until chicken is no longer pink on the inside. I often times slice my chicken breast into long thinner slices to cook more easily. Some might prefer to cook a whole breast and cut into slices afterward. It's all preference. I usually keep my chicken cooking at Medium for about 7-10 mins. Lowering the heat towards the end. Be sure chicken is thoroughly cooked and flip a few times as needed. Remember no pink.
3. When your chicken is finished set it to the side.
4. When the spaghetti is ready drain it and drench it with cold water for about 30 seconds or so and let it stand in the drainer. This shocks the spaghetti so that it won't stick together as much. If it begins to stick again. Run it under more cold water. Keep in drainer until time to serve.
5. Make your salad. You can do this part on your own. Chopping the veggies as you like.
6. Serve a large place with salad mix and veggies mixed in as the base, then about a handful of spaghetti for each plate (wash your hands first), next a few cooked chicken slices per plate, The Balsamic dressing (a regular amount, let others put extra if they like) and finally sprinkle more grated parmesan cheese on top.

The result will look something like this:

Hope you enjoy my favorite chicken & pasta salad. Bien Provecho!