Description
Creamy sun-dried tomato chicken pasta blends Italian culinary traditions with rich, comforting flavors. Savory chicken and tangy tomatoes mingle in a luxurious sauce that ensures a memorable dining experience for home cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced thin
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed, drained)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve a cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining, then set pasta aside.
- Chicken Searing: Season chicken slices with robust herbs and spices. Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over high heat, expertly sear chicken until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauce Creation: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Add sun-dried tomatoes, deglaze with chicken broth, then incorporate heavy cream, Parmesan, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until the sauce thickens and develops a rich, creamy consistency.
- Combining Elements: Introduce pasta and fresh spinach into the velvety sauce, allowing spinach to gently wilt. Return chicken to the skillet, tossing to ensure every ingredient is luxuriously coated. Adjust sauce texture using reserved pasta water if needed.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with fresh basil and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan. Serve immediately to capture the dish’s peak flavor and textural harmony.
Notes
- Pasta Water Preservation: Save a cup of starchy pasta water before draining – this liquid gold helps create silky, clingy sauce and can adjust consistency if sauce becomes too thick.
- Chicken Seasoning Technique: Generously coat chicken with dry seasonings before searing to develop deep flavor layers and create a beautiful golden crust that locks in moisture.
- Skillet Temperature Control: Use medium-high heat when searing chicken to achieve perfect golden-brown exterior without burning, ensuring juicy internal meat texture.
- Sauce Balancing Trick: Gradually add reserved pasta water to create ideal sauce thickness, preventing it from becoming too runny or overly dense – aim for a smooth, glossy coating that clings beautifully to pasta and chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg