Girl Dinner Pasta Board (Printable Version)

A colorful board featuring trio of pastas, sauces, and grilled chicken strips for easy, flavorful grazing.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 tsp 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 & Garnishes

11 - 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves
14 - 0.25 cup black olives, sliced
15 - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti, penne, and farfalle separately 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 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 types of pasta in distinct sections on a large serving board or platter.
06 - Place grilled chicken strips alongside the pasta sections.
07 - Spoon each warmed sauce into small bowls and place them on the serving board.
08 - Add bowls or piles of Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, and olives to the board.
09 - Just before serving, drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the pasta to enhance flavor.
10 - Invite guests to mix and match pastas, sauces, and toppings according to their preferences.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's designed for people with different cravings—no negotiations at the dinner table.
  • The active cooking time is short, but it feels like you've made something elaborate.
  • Guests become participants, which always makes food taste better somehow.
02 -
  • Don't skip resting the chicken; it sounds like a small step, but it makes the difference between strips that stay tender and ones that are dry.
  • Warm your sauces instead of serving them cold—cold sauce sitting on warm pasta tastes wrong, even if you can't quite name why.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of pasta and let leftovers rest in the fridge; they're perfect for tomorrow's lunch and actually taste better cold.
  • If you're feeding a crowd, keep the heated sauce in a small pot nearby so people can add more as plates get lighter.
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