Frugal Foodie Mama: Easy Chicken Puttanesca Penne

You only need 30 minutes & 5 simple ingredients to whip up this family-pleasing Easy Chicken Puttanesca Sauce on a busy weeknight...

This recipe was created in partnership with Barilla, Walmart, & No Kid Hungry. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Is anyone else's head spinning from the fact that back to school is just a few short weeks away? And for some of you all, the first day of school has already come and gone! (<<My mind is still blown over that one.)

While I am definitely looking forward to reclaiming my 6 hours of kid-free time on the weekdays, I am also a little sad that summer break is almost over. We had all these grand plans for this summer, but a few things (like that promised weekend camping trip in a tent) didn't get crossed off the family checklist this time around. That seems to happen just about every summer, right?

But now I am getting ready to switch gears from a summer break bucket list to all of those checklists that come with the beginning of a new school year. The school supply list, checking off all that required paperwork that has been signed in and turned in for kindergarten registration, shopping for the necessary back to school clothes, dorm room essentials, and last but certainly not least- weeknight meal planning.

I mean, I do meal planning all year round, but I always get a little lax with it in the summertime. The school months, however, are a whole other story. I have a set dinner plan for each day of the week from mid-August through the end of May each school year.

That meal plan is my sanity saver throughout the busy school week. My weekly meal plans are mostly filled with quick, easy, & family pleasing dinner recipes like this Easy Chicken Puttanesca Penne recipe that I am sharing with you all today... :)

For those of you all not familiar with Puttanesca, it is an old world Italian dish. Homemade traditional Puttanesca sauce usually contains anchovies, crushed red pepper, olives, & capers, but I left out the little fishies & the kick of heat to make this dish more kid friendly.

I did leave in the olives because both of my kids adore them. And I put the capers on the side since only half of my family likes them. ;)

I rarely have the time to make pasta sauce from scratch on busy weeknights, so I grabbed a jar of Barilla Tomato & Basil Sauce and a box of Barilla Penne from my local Walmart Supercenter to make this recipe.

Barilla Tomato & Basil sauce contains no preservatives & is made with non-GMO ingredients. Barilla Penne is made with simple ingredients and is perfectly shaped to hold onto all of the flavor in this chunkier puttanesca sauce.

I simply cooked the penne & doctored up the Tomato & Basil sauce with the olives & chicken and voila! Dinner was ready & on the table in just 30 minutes.

Did you know that nearly 1 in 6 children in this country live in a household that struggles to get food on the table each day? But you can help just by doing something that you probably already do anyways! :)

While you are feeding your family by purchasing your favorite Barilla pasta at your local Walmart, you can feel good knowing that you are also helping other families get dinner table on the table this school year.

To save even more time making this recipe, use leftover roasted or grilled chicken in this sauce or simply pick up a rotisserie chicken from your local Walmart Supercenter or Neighborhood Market.

Yield: Serves 5

Author: Carrie Robinson

Easy Chicken Puttanesca Penne

You only need 30 minutes & 5 simple ingredients to whip up this family-pleasing Easy Chicken Puttanesca Sauce on a busy weeknight.

prep time: 10 min cook time: 20 min total time: 30 min

ingredients:

10 oz. of Barilla Penne, cooked al dente
24 oz. jar of Barilla Tomato & Basil Sauce
1/2 cup green olives, sliced
2 cups of cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
Capers on the side (optional)

instructions:

How to cook Easy Chicken Puttanesca Penne

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add salt to taste. Add the penne to the boiling water. Boil the penne about 10-11 minutes until al dente. Once cooked, drain the penne into a colander.
While the water for the penne is coming to a boil, prepare the easy chicken puttanesca sauce. Add the Tomato & Basil sauce, the sliced olives, & the cooked chicken to a large saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until heated thoroughly.
To serve:
Plate about 1/2 cup of penne per serving. Ladle about 1/2 cup of the puttanesca sauce over the penne. Garnish with capers, if desired. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!

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