Easy Trader Joe's Meals - Lemon Chicken Pasta in Light Cream Sauce

... a continuation of my posts on easy meals made from ingredients found at Trader Joe's

Lemon Chicken Pasta in Light Cream Sauce
1 package grilled lemon pepper chicken breast.
1 package lemon pappardelle pasta.
1 medium onion
splash olive oil (for sautéing onion)
2/3 cup water
1 1/2 tsp. flour
1 cup low-fat or non-fat milk
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Finely chop onion. In small sauce pan, sauté onion in olive oil. Just as you see the slightest hint of browning, add 1/3 cup water and continue to stir. Again, just as you see the slightest hint of browning, add final 1/3 cup water and continue to stir. Finally, add flower. Cook for 1 min. Stir in the milk over medium-low heat until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese.

Cook pasta according to instructions. Heat chicken breast in microwave (1-2 min) and then chop into bite-sized cubes. Toss cream sauce with chicken and pasta.

Both the lemon pasta and lemon pepper chicken are very tangy. The cream sauce nicely tempers the lemon zing.

Comment: the onions may seem like too much work, but when done this way, they really do make up for the lack of fat in the cream sauce. Still, the whole meal takes only 20 minutes. The method works for mashed potatoes too. If you add onions cooked this way, you can use 1/2 the butter and not miss it in the flavor.