Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Recipe

Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta is a simple and delicious dish that combines the freshness of tomatoes and basil with the heartiness of chicken and pasta. It’s a perfect weeknight meal, easy enough to prepare after a long day, yet packed with lots of fresh flavor.

This recipe uses fresh tomatoes and just a handful of other ingredients, many of which you might already have in your kitchen. The simple combination of these ingredients create a delicious, comforting and filling dish that’s sure to please.

Bite size pieces of chicken cooked in an easy to make tomato basil sauce. Then toss in the cooked penne pasta and you have a meal that you will want to make over and over again.

Fresh Ingredients Matter

The star of this dish is the fresh tomatoes and basil. Using fresh tomatoes instead of canned gives the sauce a light, natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with the the other ingredients.

For this recipe, 4-6 fresh tomatoes are used, depending on their size. You can choose whatever variety you have on hand, but Roma tomatoes tend to work particularly well because of their firm texture and rich flavor.

Basil, another key ingredient, adds a pop of freshness to the dish. It’s important to use fresh basil rather than dried because fresh basil has a more vibrant flavor. The basil gets blended into the sauce but also serves as a garnish at the end, giving the dish not only a beautiful presentation, but it also adds more flavor.

And if you love the combination of fresh tomato and basil, be sure to try this Tomato Basil Quick Bread Recipe! You can even make a loaf and serve it with this dish so you can get every bit of that delicious sauce at the bottom of your plate.

Making the Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Sauce

The sauce for this Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta is incredibly easy to make. Start by combining the quartered tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, basil, olive oil, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a food processor.

This blend of ingredients gives the sauce a rich and tangy flavor, with the balsamic vinegar adding just the right amount of acidity. If you like a little kick, you can add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, though that’s entirely optional.

Once everything is blended, set the sauce aside while you prepare the pasta and chicken. The sauce doesn’t need to simmer for hours like a traditional marinara. Instead, it cooks along with the chicken, which allows all the flavors to meld together as the chicken finishes cooking.

Cooking the Pasta

For the pasta, penne is a great choice because its tubular shape holds onto the sauce, making each bite full of flavor. Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. It’s important to salt the water generously because this is your only chance to season the pasta itself.

Once the water is boiling, add the penne and cook according to the package instructions for al dente, usually about 10-12 minutes. Be sure to check the pasta occasionally to avoid overcooking.

Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. This starchy water can be used to adjust the consistency of the sauce later. It’s a simple trick that helps the sauce cling better to the pasta and keeps the dish from becoming too dry.

Preparing the Chicken

While the pasta is cooking, it’s time to prepare the chicken. Start by heating a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper.

Brown the chicken on both sides, but don’t worry about cooking it all the way through just yet. Once the chicken is browned, remove it from the skillet and cut it into bite-sized pieces.

This step helps the chicken cook evenly and ensures that there are plenty of bits of chicken throughout the dish. After cutting the chicken, return the pieces to the skillet and pour the prepared tomato-basil sauce over them.

Then lower the heat to medium and let everything simmer together for about 10 minutes. This allows the chicken to fully cook while absorbing the flavors of the sauce.

The Final Step In Making Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta

When the pasta is ready, drain it (remember to save some of that pasta water) and add the cooked penne to the skillet with the chicken and sauce. Toss everything together so the pasta gets evenly coated.

If the sauce seems too thick, you can use a bit of the reserved pasta water to thin it out. Start by adding a small amount and stir, adding more if needed until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Before serving make sure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. It is best to check the largest chicken pieces with an instant read digital thermometer to ensure that it it’s safe to eat.

Once the chicken is fully cooked and the pasta is well coated with the sauce, your Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta is ready to serve.

How To Serve Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta

Before serving, garnish the dish with the reserved diced tomatoes and chopped basil. This adds a burst of freshness and color to the meal, making it not only taste great but look appealing as well.

You can also sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese on top if you’d like. You can never go wrong with the combination of tomato, basil and Parmesan cheese.

Storing and Reheating

If you have leftovers, this dish stores well in the fridge. Just transfer the pasta to an airtight container and it will keep for about 3-4 days.

To reheat, simply warm it up in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat. You may need to add a splash of water or broth to loosen up the sauce since pasta tends to absorb liquid as it sits.

This Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta is also a great meal to prepare ahead of time. You can make the sauce and cook the chicken a day in advance, then just cook the pasta and combine everything when you’re ready to eat. This makes it a perfect option for busy weeknights or for meal prepping.

Tomato and Basil Chicken Pasta Recipe

* Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to read the entire article for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 4-6 tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, loosely packed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, ground
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes, optional
• 4 (4-6 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 16 ounces penne pasta, uncooked

INSTRUCTIONS

Reserve a small amount of tomatoes (chopped) and basil (chopped) for garnish.

Combine tomatoes, vinegar, basil, oil, garlic, salt and black pepper in a food processor. Set aside.

Begin a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once at a rapid boil add the penne pasta and cook per the instructions on the package for al dente.

While the pasta is boiling place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then add In 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Brown on both sides. Once browned (does not have to be cooked through) remove and cut each chicken breast into bite size pieces. Return the chicken pieces to the skillet. 

Add the sauce mixture to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium to maintain a low, steady simmer for 10 minutes.  

Add The Pasta

When the pasta is ready, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water and then drain the pasta. Place the pasta into the skillet and toss to coat.

Use some of the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce if desired.

Once the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F when checked with an instant read digital thermometer serve the Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta warm.

Garnish with the reserved diced tomato and basil. Of course feel free to add shaved or grated Parmesan cheese on top of your Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta dish.

ENJOY!

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