Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

This sun dried tomato chicken pasta is one of our family's favorite meals! You can make it in 30 minutes or less, and it's DELICIOUS. The fresh basil pairs perfectly with the sun dried tomatoes, and the sauce is creamy, but not too heavy. This recipe is perfect for a quick family weeknight meal, but also fancy enough for a dinner party!

Here are a few other delicious, easy pasta recipes--make sure to check them out:

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Creamy Tuscan Salmon and Pasta

Creamy Salmon Piccata

Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

Tips for the Perfect Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

1. Pound out the chicken before cooking it. Pounding meat tenderizes it, and thins it out enough so that it cooks through completely on the stove. Can I let you in on a secret? I actually don't even own a meat tenderizer! ? I just cover the top of the chicken with plastic wrap, and pound out the chicken on a cutting board with a rubber mallet. It's always worked great, so I haven't bothered to ever buy a meat tenderizer! If you're like me and don't own one, try this out!
2. Use sun dried tomatoes in a packet, NOT with oil in a jar. I've tried making this with oiled sun dried tomatoes, and it's just too much oil. Here's the link for the kind I like to use: Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes. I've been able to find it at any grocery store!
3. Use fresh basil, not dried! Fresh basil has so much more flavor, and it adds a lot to this dish. I use other dried herbs in this recipe, but that's because I don't grow my own herbs and can't justify buying so many fresh ones. It adds up! But if you have some fresh thyme, oregano, or parsley, feel free to sub them for the dried herbs. Just remember that one teaspoon dried herbs equals 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs--so make adjustments accordingly.

If you try out this sun dried tomato chicken pasta or any of my other recipes, I’d LOVE to hear about it. You can leave a comment below the recipe. If you post a picture on Instagram, be sure to tag me! Getting any feedback on my recipes is both rewarding AND helpful as I write and edit recipes in the future.

Now get cooking, and enjoy!

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 585kcal

This sun dried tomato chicken pasta is a quick hearty and flavor-filled meal that the entire family will enjoy!

Ingredients

• ▢ 2-2.5 lbs chicken breast skinless and boneless
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil

Chicken Seasoning

• ▢ 2 teaspoon italian seasoning
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Sauce

• ▢ 3 tablespoon salted butter
• ▢ 1 large shallot minced
• ▢ 3 teaspoon garlic
• ▢ 3 oz sun dried tomatoes* finely chopped
• ▢ 2 cup chicken broth
• ▢ 2 cup half and half
• ▢ 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ▢ ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ▢ 2-3 tablespoon cornstarch**
• ▢ 2 tablespoon lemon juice

Other Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb rigatoni pasta cooked according to instructions
• ▢ 6 oz baby spinach
• ▢ ¾ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• ▢ 2 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

• Pound out the chicken using a meat mallet until it’s about ½ inch thick. Add all of the chicken seasoning to a small bowl and mix well. Rub each side of the chicken with the seasoning, using all of it.
  2-2.5 lbs chicken breast, 2 teaspoon italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
• Add one tablespoon of olive oil to a large frying pan, and heat on medium-high. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for about 4-5 minutes (covered), or until golden brown. Flip the chicken over and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn the heat off, place the chicken on a plate and cover. Allow to rest for 10 minutes and then slice into small chunks.
  1 tablespoon olive oil
• Cook the rigatoni pasta according to the instructions on the box.
  1 lb rigatoni pasta
• In a large pot, melt the butter on medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and sundried tomatoes, and cook for 1 minute, or until aromatic. Add the chicken broth and half and half, and turn the heat up to medium-high. Add in the salt, smoked paprika, oregano, red pepper flakes, thyme, black pepper, and dried parsley. Then, mix the cornstarch with two** tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl. Add the mixture to the large pot and stir until it starts to thicken.
  3 tablespoon salted butter, 1 large shallot, 3 teaspoon garlic, 3 oz sun dried tomatoes*, 2 cup chicken broth, 2 cup half and half, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, 2-3 tablespoon cornstarch**
• Once the sauce has thickened, turn the heat down to medium-low and mix in the lemon juice, spinach, parmesan cheese, fresh basil, chopped chicken, and cooked rigatoni.
  2 tablespoon lemon juice, 6 oz baby spinach, ¾ cup parmesan cheese, grated, 2 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped, 1 lb rigatoni pasta
• Once the spinach has softened, the pasta is done. Enjoy!

Notes

*I prefer to use the sun dried tomatoes in a packet, NOT in oil (otherwise the pasta turns out too oily). 

**2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water should be enough to thicken the sauce. If not, mix another tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water and add it to the sauce as well.

Equipment

• cutting knife
• cutting board
• meat mallet
• large saute pan
• 2 large pots
• rubber spatula
• meat thermometer (optional)

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Author: All You Can Eats

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: 30 minute dinner, comfort food, creamy pasta, family dinner recipe, meal prep recipes