Description
This Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta features tender bites of seasoned chicken simmered in a luxurious homemade sun-dried tomato cream sauce, tossed with al dente fettuccine or penne pasta. This quick and flavorful stovetop recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight Italian-American dinner that’s rich, comforting, and sure to please the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine or penne pasta
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the chicken: In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the bite-sized chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, sautéing for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Make the creamy sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until it melts and the sauce thickens slightly to a creamy consistency.
- Combine chicken and pasta: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet and toss to coat them in the creamy sauce. Then add the drained pasta and gently combine everything until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil and crushed red pepper flakes if desired for added aroma and a little heat. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- For extra richness and silky texture, stir in a tablespoon of butter into the sauce while it simmers.
- To add vegetables, consider sautéing fresh spinach or mushrooms along with the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
