Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken in a Creamy Mozzarella Sauce
Recipes Chicken Italian Main Dish Pasta Quick and Easy
Description
This restaurant quality pasta dish is easy and comes together quickly. The penne and chicken are made in a creamy Mozzarella sauce with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and seasonings.
Ingredients
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 oz. sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained and reserved*
1 T. olive oil, if needed*
1 lb. chicken breast tenderloins, sliced
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. paprika
1 c. half and half (or 1/2 c. heavy cream plus 1/2 c. milk)
3/4 c. to 1 c. pre-shredded Mozzarella cheese (DON'T use fresh Mozzarella)
8 oz. penne pasta
1 T. basil
1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 c. reserved pasta cooking water
1/4 t. salt, or to taste
Directions
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In a large skillet, sauté the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes in the reserved oil from the sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil, if needed, for 1 minute on medium heat until the garlic is fragrant.
Remove the sun-dried tomatoes from the skillet, leaving the oil. Add sliced, salted chicken covered in paprika; cook on high heat for 1 minute per side. Remove from heat.
Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve some pasta cooking water; drain the pasta.
Slice the sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces; transfer back to the skillet with chicken.
Creamy Pasta Sauce:
Add the half-and-half and Mozzarella cheese to the skillet; bring to a gentle boil;
immediately reduce to a simmer; cook, constantly stirring, until all cheese melts and a creamy sauce forms.
Add cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the cream sauce; stir. Add the basil and red pepper flakes; stir.
If the creamy sauce is too thick, slowly add about up to 1/2 c. reserved cooked pasta water to the skillet, just a bit at a time so that you don't use too much.
Season with salt and more red pepper flakes, if needed. Simmer for several minutes for flavors to combine.
Serve.
4 servings.
*If using jarred sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, make sure to drain sun-dried tomatoes from oil, before using them. Reserve 2 T. of this drained olive oil.