Description
This Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish combining tender chicken breast pieces with a spicy tomato cream sauce, tossed with perfectly cooked rotini pasta and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounce rotini pasta (uncooked)
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 pound chicken breast (skinless and boneless, cut into bite size pieces)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 cup tomatoes (chopped)
- 6 green onions (chopped)
- ½ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
Sauce and Cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
- ½ cup low sodium or no sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, meaning the pasta is cooked but still firm to the bite. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Melt Butter: In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium-high heat until fully melted and slightly bubbling.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the bite-sized chicken breast pieces to the skillet. Sprinkle over the chili powder, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook the chicken until it is no longer pink in the center and fully cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add Vegetables and Herbs: Stir in the chopped tomatoes, green onions, and fresh parsley. Cook everything together for an additional 2 minutes to soften the vegetables and blend flavors.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream (or half and half) and chicken broth. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil, allowing the sauce to start thickening.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked rotini pasta back into the skillet. Stir to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce and ingredients.
- Add Cheese and Serve: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the pasta mixture. Optionally, garnish with extra fresh parsley. Serve the pasta warm to enjoy the melted cheese and creamy tomato sauce.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half and half or light cream.
- Adjust the chili powder and flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Use low sodium chicken broth to control the saltiness of the dish.
- Fresh parsley can be added at the end for a burst of freshness and color.
- Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy when combined with the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
