Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco

http://mywoodenspoon.com/grilled-chicken-penne-al-fresco/

Believe it or not, I actually do use real recipes with measurements sometimes. This is one of my favorites. A few years ago, I got a stoneware covered baking dish, which can be used in the oven or microwave. I really like it, and I also get a real workout lifting it...which is the only drawback...so heavy! Actually, I use it to cook the chicken first, then set aside, wipe the baker and continue this recipe. The basil is wonderful! If you don't have a stoneware baking dish, try it in any covered glass baking dish.
Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco
Ingredients:
4 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
3 cups uncooked mezze penne pasta
3 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup dry white wine such as Chardonnay
1/2 tsp each salt and coarsely ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves, divided
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups diced grilled chicken breasts
Additional grated fresh Parmesan cheese and coarsely ground black pepper

Directions:
1. Spray Deep Covered Baking Dish with olive oil. Slice garlic into baker. Add tomatoes. Cover; microwave on HIGH 4-5 minutes or until tomatoes begin to burst, stirring after 2 minutes. This is the neat part, because you can hear the little tomatoes POP! Crush tomatoes. Add pasta, broth, wine, salt and black pepper. This is the other neat part, because the pasta cooks right in the MICROWAVE!
2. Return baker to microwave; cover and microwave on HIGH 16-18 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring after 10 minutes. Meanwhile, coarsely chop basil. Reserve 2 tbsp for garnish. Grate cheese.

3. Carefully remove baker from microwave and remove lid, lifting away from you. Add remaining basil, cheese and chicken to baker; mix well. Garnish with reserved 2 tbsp basil, additional Parmesan cheese and black pepper, if desired.

Cook’s Tips: An additional 3/4 cup chicken broth can be substituted for the wine, if desired.

Any tube-shaped pasta requiring 9-11 minutes cook time, such as penne or rigatoni, can be substituted for the mezze penne pasta.

To grill chicken, season 2 chicken breasts, about 6 oz each, with salt and black pepper. Heat Grill Pan over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Spray pan with oil. Cook chicken 4-6 minutes or until grill marks appear. Turn chicken over; cook 4-6 minutes or until center of chicken is no longer pink and Digital Pocket Thermometer registers 170°F...OR JUST BUY A READY BAKED CHICKEN!!!