- 1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup cubed ham
- 1 pound whole grain penne pasta
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup apple juice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup grated swiss cheese
- 8 oz whipped cream cheese
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
For the Side Vegetable
- Asparagus chopped into bite-size pieces (could also use broccoli, brussel sprouts, or green beans)
For the Crunchy French Onion Topping (optional, but delicious!)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ cups French fried onions
- 1 cup panko (I use Whole Wheat Panko)
- pinch of kosher salt
For serving: steamed asparagus, crunchy french onion topping