Chicken & Angel Hair Pasta with Bell Peppers in a Parmesan Cream sauce

This easy dinner recipe is a staple that never gets old in my house. This is a lighter version of an Alfredo sauce, so it is tasty and satisfying without too much fat and calories. Best of all this is not only a pallet please but also a budget pleaser!

Cost breakdown:

Chicken: I buy the bulk chicken breast, also known as the Family Pack. Usually the cost is about $1.99 a pound and there are usually seven really fat chicken breasts in the package, about 4 lbs of chicken and I pay around $8 for the package - these are very round numbers.  I average 2 servings per breast so there are basically 14 servings in the package and $8 divided by 14 servings  = .57 cents per serving. This recipe serves 4 so that is 2 breasts.
Cost: $2.28
Per Serving: .57 cents

Vegetables: I use 1 each of red and green bell peppers. they cost usually 1.49 and 99 cents so I will spend $2.48 on two bell peppers, this will make 4 servings in the dish so that is 2.48 / 4 = .62 cents per serving. I also use half an an onion, an onion at .99 cents costs about .33 cents and I only use half for the recipe so that is 16.5 cents / 4 servings = rounded .04 cents per serving for a total in veges at .66 cents.
Cost: 2.81
Per Serving: .66 cents

Pasta: I guy the generic Angel Hair pasta at $1 a box and that contains about 8 servings, so I use half a box for the recipe = .50 cents
Cost: .50 cents
Per Serving: .1125 cents

Parmesan Cheese: I use the Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese in the green shaker bottle. The 8 oz bottle costs about $3.89 and I can get about 6 meals use from the bottle. I round that to .65 cents per meal
Cost .65 cents
Per Serving: .1625

Chicken Broth: 1 cube of the Wylers = .08 cents. 1 jar of 25 cubes is $2.
Cost: .08 cents
Per Serving:.02 cents

Heavy Whipping Cream: an 8 oz carton is about $3 I use the whole thing in this recipe.
Cost: $3
Per Serving: .75 cents

Butter: 2 TBS I buy butter when it is on sale for $2 / lb. = .0625 per TBSP = .125 cents
Cost .125 cents
Per Serving: .03125

Total Cost to make this meal is $9.44 
Cost Per Serving: $2.36

Normally you would shop the items for your recipe from your own refrigerator and pantry but if you had to buy all the items from the store shelves the cost would be as follows*:

Chicken Breasts Family Pack: $8.00
Bell Peppers and Onion: $1.81
Pasta: $1.00
Parmesan Cheese: $3.00
Chicken Broth Cubes: $2.00
Heavy Whipping Cream: $3.00
Butter Sticks: $2.00
Total: $20.81

That seems like a lot to make a meal but you will have some items left over to use for other meals:
5 Chicken Breasts (10 servings) valued at $5.70
1/2 box Angel Hair Pasta valued at .50 cents
1/2 an Onion valued at .16 cents
24 Chicken Bouillon Cubes valued at $1.92
Butter: 30 TBS valued at $1.875

Total value in your pantry: $10.155 - that's almost half of what you spent! This means you are stocking your cupboards!  Just be mindful of expiration dates and foods that spoil and plan your meals accordingly!

Now for this delicious recipe!

Chicken & Angel Hair Pasta with Bell Peppers in a Parmesan Cream Sauce

I have also seen this called Chicken Fajita Alfredo.

2 Tbsp butter

1/2 yellow onion, diced

2 chicken breasts, cubed

1 green pepper, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1-1/2 cups chicken broth

1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 cup heavy whipping cream

8 ozs angel hair pasta, cooked 

Directions:

1. Melt butter in large saute pan and then add onions, sauteing for 5-10 minutes until soft, being careful not to burn.
2. Add in the cubed chicken breasts and brown on all sides, stirring frequently until almost coked through about 4 minutes.
3. Add in the diced red and green bell peppers and saute for another 2 minutes or so until the peppers start to soften.  
4. Add in approximately 1 to 1-1/2 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil. Turn to medium and simmer for about 10  minutes until the vegetables are soft to your liking.
5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, and then the heavy whipping cream until well combined.
6. Serve over Angel Hair Pasta.

Serves 4

Sometimes I like to stir the pasta right into the pan with the chicken and vegetables before I serve it. I like the pasta to soak up all that Parmesan creamy goodness!

TRY THIS SUBSTITUTE: Shrimp for Chicken Breast

ENJOY!

*These numbers and costs are approximate. Your store's prices may vary slightly.  Also keep in mind, you could also save even more by using coupons. I personally, try to only shop the sale items and I also stock up on sale items as much as my budget permits.