Description
A creamy and cheesy Chicken Mozzarella Pasta featuring tender chicken breast in a flavorful tomato and cream sauce, tossed with penne pasta and topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This hearty dish is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 300 g pasta (penne or your choice)
For the Chicken and Sauce
- 300 g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- 1 can (400 g) crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Cheese and Garnish
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside carefully to prevent sticking.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and season with salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs. Cook until the chicken is golden brown on the outside and fully cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add Tomatoes: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it cook for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and deepen.
- Add Cream: Stir in the heavy cream and continue simmering for another 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce turns creamy and smooth.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir well to coat the pieces evenly with the sauce.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and gently toss everything together so the pasta is fully coated with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan over the pasta. Stir gently until the cheeses melt into the hot pasta, creating a rich and cheesy texture.
- Garnish: Remove from heat. Garnish the pasta with fresh basil leaves and, if you like a bit of heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top.
- Serve: Serve the Chicken Mozzarella Pasta hot for a delicious, comforting meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use penne or your favorite short pasta that holds sauce well.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce but expect less richness.
- Fresh basil adds brightness, but dried basil can be used when fresh is unavailable.
- For a lower-fat option, use part-skim mozzarella and reduce the amount of cream slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, mozzarella pasta, creamy chicken pasta, Italian pasta recipe, dinner recipe, cheesy pasta
