Description
Delectable chicken tomato pasta whisks home cooks through Mediterranean culinary landscapes with bold, comforting flavors. Robust sauce and tender chicken promise a satisfying meal that connects families around one delicious plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 12 ounces (340 grams) penne or spaghetti
- 1 can (14 ounces/400 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) tomato paste
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) heavy cream or milk (optional)
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente, carefully preserving a half cup of starchy cooking liquid before straining.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet, then sear chicken pieces with a sprinkle of salt and cracked pepper, cooking until a golden-brown exterior develops and interior reaches complete doneness.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a temporary plate, maintaining the flavorful skillet residue.
- Within the same skillet, gently sweat finely chopped onions and minced garlic until translucent and aromatic.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, blend with tomato paste, and enrich the sauce with dried oregano, fresh basil, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and chicken broth.
- Allow the mixture to simmer and reduce, concentrating the vibrant flavors for approximately 10 minutes.
- Introduce heavy cream to transform the sauce into a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Reunite the perfectly cooked pasta and seared chicken with the robust tomato sauce, delicately tossing to ensure complete coating.
- If the sauce appears too thick, gradually incorporate reserved pasta water to achieve an ideal, silky texture.
- Finish the dish with a generous shower of grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Reserve the starchy cooking liquid to help sauce cling beautifully to noodles and create a silky, smooth texture.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in juicy flavor.
- If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve the ideal creamy consistency without compromising taste.
- Replace heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for lighter versions, and use gluten-free pasta for a celiac-friendly option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg