Chicken Pepperoni

Dad's Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 stick pepperoni
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken (more or less to preference)
• olive oil
• 2 large cans tomato sauce (29-32 ounces each)
• 2 cans tomato paste (6 oz each)
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Pasta of choice

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions
2. Slice thick and then quarter the slices of pepperoni.  Cook in skillet or dutch oven over medium heat, allowing the fat to render out.  Remove pepperoni from pan and set aside.
3. Season the flour with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic powder and onion powder,
4. Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Dredge chicken in the seasoned flour until well coated.  Shake off excess and brown in the rendered pepperoni fat.  Add olive oil to the skillet if needed. Cook chicken until almost cooked through.  Remove from pan and set aside.
5. Whisk tomato sauce, tomato paste, crushed red pepper flakes and 1/2 cup water together in pan until smooth.  Return chicken and pepperoni to pan. Bring to simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for at least 7 minutes. (Step five may be done in a crockpot and cook on high until chicken is fully cooked)
6. Serve over pasta.