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Caprese Chicken Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Caprese Chicken Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce
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Caprese Chicken Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce is a comforting and vibrant dish that combines tender chicken breasts, a rich and silky tomato cream sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil. Tossed together with your choice of pasta, this easy-to-make recipe brings the fresh flavors of a classic Caprese salad into a satisfying one-dish dinner perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale

Proteins

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Produce

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Handful of fresh basil leaves, torn

Canned & Dairy

  • 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 6 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into chunks
  • Parmesan cheese, shredded, for garnish (optional)

Pantry

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 8 oz pasta of choice (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli recommended)

Instructions

  1. Prepare and Cook the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside to rest.
  2. Sauté Garlic and Make the Tomato Sauce: In the same skillet, add more olive oil if needed and sauté minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in crushed tomatoes, stir, and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in heavy cream until smooth and creamy.
  3. Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water.
  4. Combine Pasta, Chicken, and Sauce: Slice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken and pasta to the skillet with the creamy tomato sauce. Toss gently to combine, adding reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
  5. Add Fresh Mozzarella and Basil: Remove skillet from heat. Stir in fresh mozzarella chunks and torn basil leaves. Allow mozzarella to soften and slightly melt, then gently toss to combine all flavors.

Notes

  • Use room temperature mozzarella for better melting and creaminess.
  • Do not overcook chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
  • Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency for perfect coating.
  • Add fresh basil at the end for the best vibrant flavor and color.
  • Adjust cream amount based on desired sauce richness.

Nutrition

Keywords: Caprese pasta, creamy tomato sauce, chicken pasta, Italian dinner, weeknight meal, fresh mozzarella, basil, comfort food

Find it online: https://dailydishez.com/caprese-chicken-pasta-with-creamy-tomato-sauce/