simple recipe

Shrimp and Chicken Basil Pesto Pasta: A Family-Friendly Favorite

Shrimp and Chicken Basil Pesto Pasta is a delicious and filling dinner dish that’s perfect for any night of the week. This recipe features tender and juicy chicken and shrimp, sautéed in a flavorful garlic and basil pesto sauce. The pasta is cooked until al dente and then tossed with the pesto and protein mixture to create a savory and satisfying meal. The basil pesto adds a bright and herbaceous flavor to the dish, while the chicken and shrimp add a satisfying and healthy source of protein. Whether you’re a fan of pasta dishes or simply looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy chicken and shrimp, this Shrimp and Chicken Basil Pesto Pasta recipe is sure to become a favorite at your dinner table.

INGREDIENTS

For the Homemade Pesto:

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves 
  • ½ cup pine nuts
  • ½ cup grated pecorino cheese
  • 1 clove garlic peeled
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • salt and black pepper

For the Basil Pesto Shrimp and Chicken Pasta:

  • Pack of pasta 
  • 3-4 boneless skinless chicken thighs; shredded
  • 1 lb of shrimp, peeled and deveined 
  • 2 Tbsp Olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt 
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

For the Pesto Chicken Pasta:

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Set aside once ready.
  2. Season both sides of the chicken thighs with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
  3. In a large pan heat olive oil over medium heat, add chicken thighs, and fry both sides 2-3 minutes per side or until golden and cooked. Remove the chicken from the pan, cut, and shred into pieces with a fork and knife. Set aside.
  4. In the same pan, add the shrimp, pinch of salt, and cook for about 5 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.

For the Basil Pesto:

  1. Set out a food processor. Place the basil leaves, olive oil, pine nuts, pecorino cheese, garlic clove, lemon juice, pepper, and salt in the food processor. Cover and pulse until finely ground and a smooth, thick pesto sauce is formed. Taste, then add additional salt and pepper if needed.
  1. Stir in the shredded cooked chicken and shrimp into the cooked pasta. Stir in the pesto, and stir everything together. 
  2. Once it’s ready, top with additional grated pecorino cheese and serve. Enjoy!
  3. Make sure you hashtag #DinnerWithTayo, I would love to see your dish.

BBQ Black Bean and Quinoa Burger

Try this nutritious BBQ black bean and quinoa burger. Packed with all your favorite fixing, this recipe is an upgrade to your burger selection.

Ingredients

  • Coconut or olive oil for cooking
  • 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, drained, or 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs

Instructions

  1. Cook the quinoa and set aside (see notes on the original packing for instructions).
  2. Roughly mash the black beans with a fork leaving some whole black beans in a paste-like mixture.
  3. Add in the cooked quinoa, bread crumbs, salt, cajun seasoning, garlic, paprika, salt, and tomato paste. Mix together until combined.
  4. Form the black bean mixture into patties.
  5. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties on both sides for 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Serve the patties on a whole-wheat hamburger bun with guacamole, barbecue sauce, and other desired toppings, or on top of a salad.
  7. Enjoy and don’t forget to hashtag, #dinnerwithtayo.

White Cod With Curry Tomato Sauce

This Alaskan white cod cooked in a curry tomato sauce is so good, easy, and is full of flavor from its combination of spices.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb skinless white cod fillets
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • 2 -3 tablespoon diced tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon or 1/2 tablespoon salt for taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle the top of the fish generously with salt and set aside.
  2. Melt the butter in a cooking pan over medium-high heat, once the butter has dissolved, add shallots, tomatoes, curry powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, chicken bouillon and thyme cook for 1 minute. Add water and stir together. Add the fish, cover the pan and cook for about 6-8 minutes.
  3. Serve the fish while still hot from the pan with any finishing garnishes. Enjoy this dish with rice or any side of your choice.
  4. Don’t forget to share your photos on social media and hashtag, #dinnerwithtayo.

Cajun Shrimp and Chicken Rice

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 2 2/3 cup chicken broth
  • 1 pound large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and de-veined
  • Pack of chicken breast
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted divided
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • cajun seasoning
  • Oregano

Instructions

  1. Rinse and clean the shrimp and chicken with water and then pat it down. Cut the chicken in pieces. Seasoning both with cajun seasoning and oregano.
  2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the shrimp until it’s pink and opaque and remove it from the skillet, set aside.
  3. Cook the chicken for 6 minutes or until its tender. Remove it from the skillet and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, stir in garlic, half of the cajun seasoning, and the rice. Stir in chicken broth, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring 1-2 times throughout. 
  5. Stir the shrimp and chicken into the rice, cover and cook for 3-5 minutes on low heat. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve. 
  6. Don’t forget to share your photos on social media and hashtag, #dinnerwithtayo.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken with a homemade Jerk sauce

INGREDIENTS

  • Pack of chicken thighs (or selection of your choice)
  • 2-3 scotch bonnet peppers (use habanero pepper for substitution)
  • ½ large red onion chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 4 stalks of scallion
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons Jamaican allspice
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 7 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • squeezed lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Clean the chicken, season with salt and set aside.
  2. Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until completely incorporated. Pour the majority of the sauce into a ziplock bag with the chicken. Save the remaining sauce for later. Let this marinate for 1-2 hours (it’s better if you allow the chicken to marinate into the sauce longer, ideally overnight).
  3. Grill the chicken on both sides until it’s cooked all the way through. Occasionally flip it on each side so you don’t burn the outside layer. It’s okay to have a nice brown texture on the outside.
  4. Once ready, remove the chicken from the grill. You can enjoy immediately or let flavors meld together for as long as you like.
  5. You can pick out the side of your choice with this dish. I made plantains with mine. If you don’t know by now I LOVE plantains.
  6. Enjoy this dish with family and friends. Don’t forget to hashtag, #dinnerwithtayo.

How to Make Surf and Turf in Creamy Cajun Sauce

This lobster, shrimp, and turkey sausage in a creamy Cajun sauce is a delicious dish that brings together a unique combination of seafood and poultry flavors. The Cajun sauce is made from a blend of spices that gives it a distinctive taste and aroma, while the cream adds a smooth and creamy texture to the sauce. The lobster and shrimp provide a tender and juicy seafood taste, while the turkey sausage adds a meaty and slightly spicy flavor to the dish. The dish is best served over a bed of rice or pasta and is perfect for a special occasion or a fancy dinner party.

Here’s an easy step-by-step instruction to make this Lobster, shrimp, and turkey sausage in a creamy cajun sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 LB shrimp, peeled & deveined
  • 5 lobster tail
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/2 can of chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup of heavy cream
  • 1/2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
  • 3 tablespoon flour
  • 2 turkey sausage
  • Green onion chopped for garnishing

Instructions

  1. Remove shrimp and lobster meat from the shell. In a large bowl, lightly coat seafood with olive oil. Generously sprinkle cajun seasoning and a pinch of old bay seafood seasoning and set aside.
  2. In a skillet, fry the turkey sausage and once they are done, cut them into pieces add set aside.
  3. In a separate skillet with olive oil, cook the garlic and red bell pepper over medium-high heat. Season with Cajun seasoning and cook until both are soft.
  4. Add the shrimp and cook this until they are 70 percent done and then add in the lobster tails. Once both are ready, remove it from the skillet and set aside.
  5. In the same skillet, slowly pour in the chicken broth, cream, butter into the remaining broth from the shrimp and lobster and whisk this together over medium heat.
  6. Add the remaining tablespoon of flour to the broth/cream mixture. This will become slickly thick so you have to keep whisking until you get a nice smooth texture. (This is not mandatory but I added a splash of white wine into my original recipe.)
  7. When your sauce is done, add in the shrimp, lobster tails and turkey sausage back in. Gentle stir together. Garnish with green onions.
  8. This dish is great with brown rice or any side of your choice.
  9. Enjoy and don’t forget to hashtag, #dinnerwithtayo.

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