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Creamy Chicken Tomato Pasta Recipe

4.2 from 56 reviews

This creamy chicken tomato pasta blends tender seared chicken breasts with a rich tomato cream sauce and al dente pasta, finished with fresh basil and Parmesan for a comforting and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 10 ounces short pasta, (penne, rotini, fusilli)
  • 2 boneless (skinless chicken breasts {about 8 ounces})
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 shallot (finely diced (or 1/2 of a small onion))
  • 3 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 14 ounce can (tomato sauce)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (cut into strips )
  • Salt and black pepper (to taste)
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (thinly sliced)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. For the chicken:
  2. Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
  3. Prepare chicken: Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise into 4 thinner cutlets. Pat dry with paper towels. Season both sides with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  4. Sear chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Sear undisturbed for 4-5 minutes, until golden. Flip and cook for 3-4 minutes more, or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
  5. Make tomato cream sauce: Reduce the heat to medium and add another 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté the shallot for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until slightly darkened.
  6. Simmer sauce: Add tomato sauce, broth, and sun-dried tomatoes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan until smooth. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick to your liking (use as much of the reserved pasta water as you feel you need if the sauce is too thick).
  7. Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta back to the skillet and toss gently until coated. Slice the chicken.
  8. Serve: Serve the pasta in bowls or leave it in the pan. Arrange the sliced chicken on top, then top with fresh basil, extra Parmesan, and freshly cracked black pepper.

Notes

    Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, tomato cream sauce, easy chicken pasta recipe, one-pan pasta, Italian chicken pasta