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    Home » Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

    Birds Nest Pasta

    Lindsay Moe

    26 shares
    Birds Nest Pasta in a bowl ontop of a plate next to a fork
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    Life is getting complicated.

    There’s a baby on the way. Its the third one. Things are getting cramped in our car, our house, and my uterus.

    Uterus talk on a food blog – that’s what you really come here for.

    While I can’t get my hands on a new uterus (who would want to?!) I will need to acquire a larger vehicle and a home with perhaps one more bedroom in the coming months. My husband is dead set against ever owning a mini van, which complicates things. Truth be told I don’t really want one either but I have a more relaxed attitude about it. My husband works from home and takes up the entire basement running his business so our current two children share the one other bedroom upstairs besides ours. We would have enough space in our current house if he found a new office, but that also complicates things. Really it just sounds like my husband complicates things. Get rid of him? No, that would really complicate things. Oh, and I would miss him.

    We can’t stop life from handing us complications. We can only make uncomplicated decisions about what to have for dinner.

    This pasta couldn’t be less complicated. Perfectly cooked pasta makes a nest for quick cooking chicken and broccoli. You have a well-balanced meal in practically the amount of time it takes to cook the pasta.

    I love to serve this with extra Parmesan cheese on top and a sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes. It’s not complicated.

    a close up of Birds Nest Pasta in a bowl
    birds nest pasta on a plate

    Birds Nest Pasta

    Chicken and broccoli with spaghetti.
    4 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 539kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound spaghetti
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 pound boneless,, skinless chicken thighs, cut into thin strips
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 heads broccoli,, thinly sliced
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese,, plus more for sprinkling

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt generously and cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the starchy cooking water.
    • While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add it to the hot pan. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through 7-10 minutes.
    • While the chicken is cooking, place about one inch of water in a medium size pot with a steamer basket. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Let cook until broccoli reaches desired tenderness, 2-5 minutes. Remove from the pot and add to the pan with the chicken, tossing to combine.
    • Return the empty pasta pot to the stove top and melt the butter over medium heat. Add the Parmesan cheese and pasta and toss to coat, adding some of the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen it up.
    • Serve the pasta by twirling it into a nest and placing the chicken and broccoli in the middle. Top with additional Parmesan and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 1088mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1550IU | Vitamin C: 181.7mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 2.8mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

    More about me →

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    26 shares