Description
This Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken pieces sautéed with spices and mixed with a creamy tomato sauce, all tossed with perfectly cooked rotini pasta. The combination of mozzarella cheese, fresh herbs, and a touch of heat from chili powder and red pepper flakes makes it a comforting and satisfying meal ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini pasta, uncooked
Chicken and Seasoning
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 6 green onions, chopped
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
- ½ cup low-sodium or no-sodium chicken broth
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces along with chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until it is cooked through and no longer pink in the center, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add Vegetables and Herbs: Stir in the chopped tomatoes, green onions, and fresh parsley into the skillet with the chicken. Cook for about 2 minutes to allow the vegetables to soften and the flavors to meld.
- Create Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream (or half and half) and chicken broth. Stir to combine and let the sauce simmer gently over medium heat until it thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Cheese and Combine: Stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and the sauce becomes creamy. Then add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together so the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy tomato sauce and chicken mixture.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed. Serve the creamy tomato chicken pasta hot, garnished with extra parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use half and half instead of heavy cream for a lighter sauce.
- Substitute rotini pasta with penne or fusilli if preferred.
- Adjust the chili powder and red pepper flakes according to your heat preference.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
