Description
Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta is a comforting, flavorful dish combining tender chicken, rich tomato sauce, and a velvety cream finish, all tossed with your favorite pasta. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner yet impressive enough for guests, this recipe brings cozy Italian flavors straight to your table. Keywords: creamy tomato chicken pasta, easy chicken pasta, tomato cream sauce, weeknight pasta recipe, Italian chicken pasta
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until chicken is browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes if using. Let it simmer for another 2–3 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency.
- Stir in chopped fresh basil.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and basil.
Notes
- You can substitute half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
- Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor and texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Calories: 550 (approximate per serving)
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
