Description
A rich, fast, and comforting weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts in a creamy sun-dried tomato and Parmesan sauce tossed with pasta. Ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil)
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound penne or fusilli pasta
- Salt and black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Pound chicken breasts to an even 1/2-inch thickness. Season both sides with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F). Remove and rest.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining olive oil to the skillet. Sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and stir for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Add heavy cream and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Slice the rested chicken. Add chicken and cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding more pasta water as needed for a glossy consistency.
- Serve immediately, garnished with red pepper flakes and fresh basil.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Do not burn the garlic; keep heat at medium. For a lighter version, swap heavy cream for half-and-half or whole milk thickened with cornstarch. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 520
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Protein: 32
Keywords: chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato, creamy pasta, 30 minute dinner, weeknight meals, easy pasta recipe, comfort food