Savor golden chicken, pasta, and tomato basil cream sauce for comforting Italian-inspired flavor any night.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 ounces penne or fettuccine
02 - Salt, for boiling water
→ Chicken
03 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
06 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
10 - 14 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
11 - 2/3 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/4 cup chicken broth
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 handful (about 1/2 ounce) fresh basil leaves, chopped
15 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, optional
16 - Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry. Season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add butter. Sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
05 - Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes to meld flavors.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Add sugar if needed to balance acidity. Stir in chopped basil. Season with salt and black pepper.
07 - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
08 - Top the pasta with sliced chicken and toss gently. Warm through for a minute, then serve immediately, garnishing with additional basil and Parmesan cheese as desired.
