Girl Dinner Pasta Board (Print)

Enjoy a shareable board with three pastas, mixed sauces, and tender grilled chicken strips.

# Ingredients:

→ Pastas

01 - 3.5 oz spaghetti
02 - 3.5 oz penne
03 - 3.5 oz farfalle

→ Chicken

04 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
07 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Sauces

08 - 1 cup marinara sauce
09 - 1 cup Alfredo sauce
10 - 1 cup pesto sauce

→ Toppings and Garnishes

11 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
14 - ¼ cup black olives, sliced
15 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

# Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti, penne, and farfalle individually according to package instructions. Drain and toss each with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
02 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill chicken breasts for 5 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through and juices run clear. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
04 - Heat marinara, Alfredo, and pesto sauces separately in small saucepans over low heat.
05 - Arrange the three cooked pastas in separate sections on a large serving board or platter.
06 - Place grilled chicken strips alongside the pastas on the serving board.
07 - Spoon each warmed sauce into small bowls and place them on the board.
08 - Add bowls or mounds of grated Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, and sliced black olives on the board.
09 - Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the pastas just before serving.
10 - Encourage guests to mix and match pastas, sauces, chicken, and toppings according to preference.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • Everyone finds exactly what they want because you're serving three different flavor profiles at once.
  • It looks impressive and feels casual at the same time, which somehow makes you seem like the most relaxed and confident host.
  • The actual cooking part is straightforward, so you spend less time stressed and more time enjoying your guests.
02 -
  • Cook each pasta separately—I learned the hard way that tossing them together makes it impossible to keep the flavors distinct, and half your guests will just end up with the same bite every time.
  • Don't skip the resting time on the chicken; those 5 minutes make the difference between tender meat and rubbery disappointment.
  • Warm your sauces before serving because cold sauce on hot pasta is a textural mismatch that feels wrong no matter how good it tastes.
03 -
  • If your marinara or Alfredo needs more seasoning once it's warm, taste it first—hot sauce reveals flavors that cold sauce hides, so you might need less salt than you think.
  • The pasta stays fresher if you toss each type with just a small amount of olive oil rather than letting it sit in a pool; keeps the texture from becoming gummy while the board sits out.
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