Whole Grain Margherita Linguine with Grilled Chicken

Here is a simple, quick dinner idea that tastes sensational! Ciliegine mozzarella simply means it's a small, cherry sized ball of fresh mozzarella; similar to how pasta's have different nomenclature. I really liked this dish using the whole grain linguine as my kids refuse to eat whole wheat pasta because it's brown, so I figured this was the next best thing. I threw in some grilled chicken tenders, but if you don't eat meat, you can substitute shrimp or any other type of shellfish, or simply leave it out altogether. 

Whole Grain Margherita Linguine with Grilled Chicken
1 lb. Whole Grain Linguine (I used Barilla®)
4 Chicken Tenders
1 pt. Grape Tomatoes, halved
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
7 oz. Ciliegine Fresh Mozzarella, halved (approximately 18)
1/4 c. Fresh Basil, chopped
1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 c. Pecorino Romano Cheese, grated
Kosher Salt, to taste
Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste


Prepare pasta according to package directions, drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the water. While pasta is cooking, grill your chicken approximately 3-5 minutes until it is cooked through, then slice into 1/4" slices. Heat oil in a large saute pan and add the tomatoes, garlic and basil and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add in the sliced chicken, pasta, mozzarella, grated cheese, and pasta water and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 4. 


Enjoy!

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