Quick And Easy Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta Recipe
Comfort food is like happiness in a bowl! And this dish has all the qualities of a good solid comforting meal. It’s tasty, creamy, and filling. But honestly, aren’t almost all chicken pasta dishes comforting!?! From a simple Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake to a big plate of Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta, I’d say they all hit the spot! And in the case of this Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta recipe, it’s no different, but a tad unique for a pasta dish. The sauce is basically composed of just fresh tomatoes, green onions, butter, cream, and lots of chili powder. No additional garlic or onions are used at all. It didn’t need it! Between the chicken, chili spice, and cheese, it’s perfection in a pan.
Pasta – I use rotini pasta for this dish, but any bite-size pasta will work like rigatoni, penne, fusilli, or farfalle. You can also use gluten free pasta too if you prefer. Butter – Always use unsalted butter in cooking to control the amount of added salt unless a recipe states otherwise. Chicken – I always make this chicken pasta with boneless skinless chicken breasts. However, you could also use chicken thigh meat too or even turkey breast if you like. Spice – Chili powder and red pepper flakes are added for a layer of mild spice. Salt – It both seasons the pasta and boosts all the flavors of the different ingredients. Black Pepper – Use fresh ground black pepper if you have it on hand. Tomatoes – Fresh chopped are best, but you can also use canned diced tomatoes. Just make sure to drain the juice. Green Onions – Adds a nice touch of mild onion flavor. Parsley – Fresh chopped parsley adds yet another layer of flavor and a bit of color to the dish. You can also use dried parsley too if that is all you have on hand. Cream – You can use heavy cream or half and half for a lighter dish. This makes the sauce rich and creamy as well as thickens it up a bit. Chicken Broth – I always opt to use low sodium or no-sodium broth to avoid over-salting. Mozzarella Cheese – Adds a lovely cheesy finish that blends perfectly with the creamy sauce. You can also use grated Parmesan cheese if you like.
This creamy pasta dish may be layered in what tastes like refined fancy flavor but it’s super easy to make! All you have to do is boil some pasta, sear some chicken, toss some stuff in the pan with the chicken, and then mix it all together. It’s an easy peasy 30-minute meal!
Cook The Pasta
To begin, you need cooked pasta! Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. And I mean super salty. It seasons the rotini as it cooks. Now, cook the pasta according to the package directions or until al dente in texture, which means still a bit firm when bitten. Then when it’s done cooking, drain the noodles and set them aside for a later step.
Sauté The Chicken
While the pasta is cooking, you can begin cooking the chicken. First, melt the unsalted butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Then add the chicken pieces to the hot pan and sprinkle them with the chili powder, red chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Now, sauté the chicken for about 5 minutes or until it is no longer pink and cooked through.
Make The Sauce
Once the chicken breast is cooked, add the tomatoes, green onions, and chopped parsley to the skillet. Now, stir everything together and cook for another 2 minutes. Then add the cream and chicken broth to the mixture and cook just until it comes to a boil.
Assemble The Dish And Serve
To finish the dish, add the cooked rotini to the skillet and toss it with the chicken and sauce to coat. Then sprinkle with the grated mozzarella cheese and some more parsley. Now, serve the creamy tomato chicken pasta with a vegetable side like Parmesan Roasted Broccoli or a fresh Greek Salad.
How To Cook Pasta Al Dente
Al Dente basically means cooked so as to be still firm when bitten. Nobody likes mushy pasta. In order to get pasta to the al dente point, cook it about 2 minutes less than indicated on the package instructions. Note that the pasta will also absorb all the sauce the longer it sits, which will also make it softer.
Leftovers And Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Make sure to refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Keep in mind that the pasta will soak up all the sauce.
Make Ahead
You can absolutely make this in advance and as a matter of fact, the longer this sits, the better it will taste because the flavors will develop even better. However, do keep in mind that this pasta won’t be as creamy anymore as when you first make it because the rotini will absorb all the sauce. If planning to make this ahead, another option would be to just make the sauce, and when ready to serve, cook the pasta and heat the sauce together with the pasta. This way it will taste fresh and it will still be super creamy and delicious.
Craving More Chicken Pasta Recipes? Try These?
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