Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta (Print Version)

Tender chicken, pasta, and creamy tomato-basil sauce create rich Italian comfort food in just 40 minutes.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 ounces penne or fettuccine
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Chicken

03 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
06 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Sauce

08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
10 - 14 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
11 - 2/3 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/4 cup chicken broth
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 handful fresh basil leaves, chopped (about 1/2 ounce)
15 - 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain pasta and set aside.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes and chicken broth, then simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Add sugar if needed to balance acidity. Stir in chopped fresh basil. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss until thoroughly coated with sauce. If needed, gradually add reserved pasta water to reach desired sauce consistency.
07 - Top pasta with sliced chicken and toss gently. Warm everything in the skillet for 1 to 2 minutes, ensuring the dish is heated through.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You’ll swear you’re eating out, but no one has to know how simple it is to pull off.
  • The creamy sauce hugs every piece of pasta and the whole thing feels restaurant-special with hardly any fuss.
02 -
  • If you add cream over too high heat, it can split and lose its silkiness—lower the burner and be patient.
  • Salting your pasta water more than you think you should really does make the whole dish come alive.
03 -
  • If you slice the chicken too soon after cooking, it can lose its juiciness—be patient and give it a rest.
  • Reserve more pasta water than you think you’ll need; a little can transform the sauce into something spectacular at the end.
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