Description
Creamy chicken mozzarella pasta brings Italian comfort to weeknight dinners with melted cheese and tender chicken. Homemade flavors combine easily for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
Carbohydrates:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, fusilli, or preferred shape)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1.5 cups (170 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream or half-and-half
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/410 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) tomato sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish:
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare pasta al dente according to package guidelines, then drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, approximately 350°F.
- Add seasoned chicken cubes, coating with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs until golden brown and thoroughly cooked.
- Incorporate finely chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until translucent and aromatic, roughly 2-3 minutes.
- Pour crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce into the skillet, sprinkling red pepper flakes for subtle heat. Allow mixture to simmer and develop flavors for 5-7 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and gently blend heavy cream, creating a rich, smooth sauce.
- Introduce cooked pasta into the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with sauce.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese throughout the dish, stirring until cheese melts and creates a creamy texture.
- Transfer to serving plates, garnishing with fresh basil leaves, optional Parmesan shavings, and sun-dried tomatoes for enhanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts to ensure even cooking and tender meat.
- Toast Italian seasoning briefly in the pan before adding chicken to release deeper, more aromatic flavors.
- Use fresh mozzarella for a creamier texture, cutting it into small chunks for better melting distribution.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or substituting with mild paprika for less spice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg