Description
A comforting and sophisticated creamy chicken pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a velvety sauce, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (fettuccine or penne)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 6–8 basil leaves, torn
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until just shy of al dente; reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil.
- Sear chicken strips in the hot skillet until golden and nearly cooked through, about 3–4 minutes per side; remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, then add butter to the skillet. Add shallot and garlic, sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add sliced mushrooms and cook until they release moisture and begin to brown, then stir in sun-dried tomatoes.
- Pour in chicken stock and simmer briefly to reduce by about a third, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
- Stir in heavy cream, then gradually add Parmesan while whisking until melted smoothly. Add thyme, basil, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Return chicken to the skillet and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is cooked through, about 3–5 minutes.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat, using reserved pasta water as needed for consistency.
- Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil and Parmesan before serving.
Notes
For richer flavor, you can melt an extra tablespoon of butter at the end. Use reserved pasta water to adjust thickness as needed.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, comfort food, Italian recipes, easy dinner