Pasta, red sauce, chicken, and melted cheese - what's not to like? This hearty dinner is one that everyone is sure to love and the leftovers reheat well.
Onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store onions in one container. Store garlic separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Make sauce - Heat a Dutch oven with olive oil (portion for sauce) over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, dried basil, and tomato paste and saute for 1 minute more. Add diced and crushed tomatoes and sugar. Cover sauce, reduce to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and season with some salt or a pinch more sugar if you’d like it a bit more sweet. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead.)
Make vinaigrette - Double if making Wednesday’s meal. Whisk together lemon juice, garlic powder, oregano, honey, and mustard. Add olive oil (portion for vinaigrette) while whisking. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Bring a stock pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain.
Line a sheet pan with foil. Brush foil with some cooking oil and spread chicken out on pan. Broil chicken, turning halfway through cooking, until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes total.
Sprinkle cheese on top of chicken and slide back under the broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Top pasta with half the tomato sauce (reserve the other half) and then the chicken.
Reserve half the vinaigrette if doubled. Toss lettuce, tomatoes, and olives with the remainder.
Serve chicken and pasta with salad on the side. Enjoy!