What’s your definition of fast food?

If you are thinking of any restaurant that has a drive-through window… we are officially on different pages.

Fast food to me is a Monday night type of meal. Something that I can put together after work at 6:30pm and have it  ready to go, eaten, and cleaned up before the Bachelor comes on at 8.

My life is just riveting, I know.

This dish is perfect to feed your hungry family, to impress your significant other, or to simply make for yourself because you are deserving of a healthy, delicious meal any and every night of the week.

Balsamic Chicken over Pasta, Tomatoes, & Spinach

Recipe adapted from Stacey’s Snacks Online

You will need:

• 4 boneless chicken breasts [sliced thin]
• whole wheat flour
• salt & pepper
• 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 box whole wheat angel hair pasta
• 1 bag of  fresh spinach, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• olive oil
• 1 can diced tomatoes [no salt added]
• chopped basil & grated parm for serving

The only tedious aspect of this dish is the fact that you need two medium/large skillets and one pot to boil the pasta- make some room!

In one of your skillets, saute the garlic in a few tablespoons of olive oil and then pour in the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and add in the spinach that you have chopped up. It seems like too much for the skillet, but it will wilt down. Simmer all of this for about 5 minutes. Cover and turn off the heat so it stays warm.

At this point, start your water for boiling your pasta.

Season your chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and lightly coat them in the flour. Shake off any excess.

In your second skillet, heat another few tablespoons of olive oil. When hot, cook the chicken breasts in the skillet for about 5 minutes on one side and then flip them.

After about 2 minutes on the second side, slowly pour in the balsamic. Be careful. It will smoke up. Let it bubble around the chicken breasts and simmer the sauce until it becomes thick and syrupy. You will want it to reduce by about half- which should take around 5 minutes.

While your chicken is doin’ it’s thang- boil the pasta. Drain and add the cooked pasta to your spinach and tomato skillet- mix it up with some tongs.

Plate the pasta-tomato- spinach mixture first, a piece of that juicy and succulent chicken next, and finish with some parm and basil. Don’t forget to use up the rest of that balsamic reduction all over your pasta.

Your kitchen is going to smell amazing, and you are going to devour this. I guarantee it.

Serve immediately, I mean the Bachelor is coming on soon.

Mangia!