Description
Creamy sun-dried tomato pasta delivers Italian-inspired comfort with tender chicken and melted mozzarella. Mediterranean flavors merge in this quick weeknight meal that brings restaurant-quality satisfaction directly to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb chicken breast tenderloins, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (pre-shredded Mozzarella, not fresh)
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 8 oz (226 grams) penne pasta (gluten-free brown rice pasta for a gluten-free option)
- 1 cup half and half (or ½ cup heavy cream + ½ cup milk)
- 4 oz (113 grams) sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon basil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt (to taste)
- ½ cup reserved cooked pasta water (or more, as needed)
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet, infuse extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic and sliced sun-dried tomatoes over medium-high heat, releasing aromatic flavors for approximately 60 seconds.
- Extract the sun-dried tomatoes, preserving the infused olive oil in the skillet.
- Generously season chicken breasts with kosher salt and smoked paprika, ensuring even coverage.
- Sear chicken pieces at high temperature, developing a golden-brown exterior by cooking 60-90 seconds per side, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Simultaneously prepare pasta according to package instructions, carefully reserving of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Dice the previously removed sun-dried tomatoes into smaller, more manageable pieces.
- Return the chicken and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the original skillet with the aromatic olive oil.
- Pour half-and-half cream and sprinkle fresh mozzarella cheese into the skillet, creating a luxurious sauce.
- Gently elevate the temperature, allowing the mixture to reach a soft bubbling point, then reduce heat and continuously stir until the cheese melts into a velvety consistency.
- Combine the creamy sauce with the drained pasta, ensuring thorough coating.
- Integrate fresh basil leaves and crushed red pepper flakes for enhanced flavor complexity.
- If the sauce appears too dense, incrementally introduce reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Perform final seasoning with additional kosher salt and red pepper flakes according to personal preference.
- Allow the dish to simmer briefly, enabling flavors to harmonize and meld together.
Notes
- Elevate this dish by using high-quality sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil for maximum flavor intensity.
- Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to guarantee food safety and juicy meat.
- Reserve pasta water before draining, as it’s a secret weapon for creating a silky, perfectly balanced sauce consistency.
- Choose fresh mozzarella for a more luxurious and creamy texture that melts beautifully into the sauce.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes – start with a pinch and add more for spice lovers.
- Allow the final simmer to help flavors marry, transforming this pasta from good to restaurant-worthy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 512 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg