Red Hot Fusilli

Name: Red Hot Fusilli
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil (or cooking oil of choice); 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced; 4 cups ripe tomatoes, chopped; 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (1 tsp dried basil); 1 tablespoon oregano leaves, crushed (1 tsp dried oregano); 1/4 teaspoon salt; ground red pepper (or cayenne, to taste); cooked chicken breast (1/2 pound diced into 1/2-inch pieces, optional); 8 ounces fusilli pasta (uncooked, 4 cups cooked)

Source: Stay Young at Heart: Cooking the Heart-Healthy Way US Department of Health and Human Services National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Published by the USDA MyPlate Kitchen library. Read from an archived copy of the source page captured 2025-12-31.

Spice up your weeknight dinner plans with this Red Hot Fusilli. Loaded with juicy tomatoes, this dish is wonderful with or without the optional chicken!

Makes

4 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil (or cooking oil of choice)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
4 cups ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (1 tsp dried basil)
1 tablespoon oregano leaves, crushed (1 tsp dried oregano)
1/4 teaspoon salt
ground red pepper (or cayenne, to taste)
cooked chicken breast (1/2 pound diced into 1/2-inch pieces, optional)
8 ounces fusilli pasta (uncooked, 4 cups cooked)

Directions

Wash hands with soap and water.
Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Saute garlic and parsley until golden.
Add tomatoes and spices. Cook uncovered over low heat 15 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. If desired, add chicken and continue cooking for 15 minutes until chicken is heated through and sauce is thick.
Cook pasta firm in unsalted water.
To serve, spoon sauce over pasta and sprinkle with coarsely chopped parsley. Serve hot as a main dish and cold for the next day's lunch.

Notes

If pre-cooked chicken is not available, cook 3/4 pound raw chicken and chop into 1/2 inch pieces when cooled down. Learn more about: Garlic Herbs Tomatoes

Quoted for reference only, exactly as the source printed it, so check product labels yourself before relying on any of it. The methodology page covers the guarantee, and how a contributor can have their text removed on request.