Creamy Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken: Your Go-To Easy Weeknight Dinner
Indulge in the rich flavors of a restaurant-quality meal right in your own kitchen with this incredible Creamy Sundried Tomato Pasta. This isn’t just another weeknight dinner; it’s a culinary delight that’s elegant enough to impress guests yet surprisingly simple to prepare. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe promises a harmonious blend of tender chicken, vibrant sun-dried tomatoes, and a luscious cream sauce, all coating perfectly al dente pasta. Forget complicated cooking – get ready for a delicious, satisfying dish that quickly becomes a family favorite!
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Essential Ingredients and Smart Substitutions for Your Creamy Sundried Tomato Pasta
Crafting the perfect creamy sundried tomato pasta starts with a careful selection of ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that rich, satisfying flavor profile. Below is a detailed look at what you’ll need, along with smart substitutions to cater to various dietary needs or pantry availability.
- Penne pasta: Our recipe calls for penne, known for its ridges and tubular shape which are perfect for capturing and holding onto that luxurious creamy sauce. However, you can easily swap this out for any hearty pasta shape. Excellent alternatives include fusilli, rigatoni, ziti, or even farfalle (bow-tie pasta). Choose a shape that you know holds sauce well for the best results.
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are our protein of choice, offering a lean and tender bite. If you prefer a slightly richer flavor and don’t mind a small increase in calorie count, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used. They tend to stay more moist and flavorful. For a vegetarian option, consider chickpeas, cannellini beans, or even sliced mushrooms for an earthy touch.
- Butter: Butter is crucial for building the foundational flavors of our sauce and sautéing the aromatics. If you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative, margarine or a good quality olive oil can work well. Keep in mind that olive oil will impart a slightly different, more robust flavor than butter.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is always recommended for its pungent aroma and robust flavor, truly elevating the dish. If fresh garlic isn’t an option, jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch. Remember that jarred garlic might be slightly less potent, so you might need to add a little extra.
- Sundried tomatoes: These intensely flavored gems are the star of our dish. We recommend oil-packed, julienned sun-dried tomatoes for their rich flavor and the infused oil which we’ll use for cooking. If you don’t have sun-dried tomatoes, canned dried tomatoes would also work here, offering a similar concentrated tomato flavor. For a different but equally delicious twist, consider roasted red peppers, which provide a sweeter, smokier note.
- Reserved pasta water: This often-overlooked ingredient is a secret weapon in pasta making! While you can technically leave it out, reserving about ½ cup of the starchy pasta water is highly recommended. It helps emulsify the sauce, making it incredibly silky, cohesive, and thick, without adding extra fat or dairy.
- Table cream: For that signature creamy texture, table cream is ideal. It’s lighter than heavy cream but richer than milk, striking a perfect balance. Half-and-half is an excellent substitute if table cream isn’t available, providing a similar consistency and richness. For a dairy-free option, full-fat coconut milk (from a can) or a good quality plant-based cream (like oat or cashew cream) can be used, though they will subtly alter the flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, umami depth to the sauce. For a dairy-free or vegan option, nutritional yeast is a fantastic substitute. It provides a cheesy, savory flavor without any dairy.
- Salt & pepper: Always season to taste! These basic seasonings are essential for bringing out the best in all the other ingredients. Adjust according to your preference.
- Baby spinach: This vibrant green adds a pop of color and a touch of freshness and nutrition to the pasta. It wilts beautifully into the warm sauce. If spinach isn’t your favorite, or you’re looking for an alternative, fresh arugula can be used for a slightly peppery kick, or you could try chopped kale (which will need a bit longer to wilt).
- Fresh basil: A final sprinkle of fresh basil leaves adds an aromatic finish and a burst of herbaceous flavor, truly completing the dish. If fresh basil is hard to find, fresh parsley or even a pinch of dried oregano or Italian seasoning would also be a good garnish.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Creamy Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Making this delightful creamy sundried tomato pasta is straightforward and fast, perfect for busy evenings. Follow these steps to achieve a perfectly balanced and flavorful dish:
Step 1: Cook the Pasta to Perfection
First, grab a large pot and fill it with water. Generously salt the water – this is crucial for flavoring the pasta from the inside out. Bring the salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, add your chosen pasta, like penne, and cook according to package directions, typically about 9 minutes, until it’s al dente. Al dente means the pasta is firm to the bite, not mushy. Before draining, make sure to reserve about 1/2 cup of that starchy pasta water in a glass measuring cup; it will be essential for creating our silky sauce. Then, drain the remaining pasta water and set your cooked pasta aside.
Step 2: Brown the Chicken for Flavorful Depth
While your pasta is cooking, you can get started on the chicken. In a large pan or skillet, heat a tablespoon or two of the flavorful oil from your jarred sun-dried tomatoes over medium-high heat. This infused oil adds an extra layer of flavor right from the start. Add your diced chicken breasts to the hot pan, seasoning generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sauté the chicken for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s beautifully browned on all sides and cooked through. Browning creates a delicious crust and locks in the juices, enhancing the overall taste of your sundried tomato chicken pasta.
Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics and Sundried Tomatoes
With the chicken cooked, it’s time to build the aromatic base of your sauce. Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter to the pan, allowing it to melt. Then, add the minced garlic and your julienned sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for another minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to burn it. The tomatoes will also release their concentrated flavor into the pan, creating a deeply aromatic foundation for your creamy sauce.
Step 4: Craft the Luxurious Cream Sauce
Now for the star of the show: the creamy sauce! Pour in the reserved pasta water, table cream, and a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese into the pan. Stir everything together continuously until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth and homogeneous. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, adjusting as needed. Allow the sauce to cook for about a minute, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly to a velvety consistency. The pasta water helps emulsify the sauce, preventing it from splitting and creating that restaurant-quality finish.
Step 5: Combine Pasta and Spinach
Once your sauce has reached its desired consistency, it’s time to bring it all together. Add the cooked pasta and fresh baby spinach directly into the skillet with the sauce. Using tongs or a large spoon, toss everything thoroughly to combine, ensuring every strand of pasta and piece of chicken is coated in the creamy goodness. Continue cooking for another minute or two, just until the baby spinach has completely wilted down into the pasta, adding a touch of vibrant green and a fresh counterpoint to the rich sauce.
Step 6: Serve Immediately and Savor Every Bite!
Your creamy sundried tomato pasta with chicken is now ready to be enjoyed! Transfer generous portions to individual bowls. For the perfect finishing touch, sprinkle with freshly chopped basil and a little extra grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. You can also add a pinch of red chili flakes for a subtle kick. Serve immediately and savor this elegant yet easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for any occasion!
Understanding Dried Tomatoes vs. Sun-Dried Tomatoes: What’s the Difference?
While often used interchangeably, there’s a subtle yet important distinction between “dried tomatoes” and “sun-dried tomatoes.” Understanding this difference can sometimes impact the flavor and texture of your dishes, especially a recipe like our creamy sundried tomato pasta where their unique qualities shine.
Dried tomatoes generally refer to tomatoes that have had their moisture removed through various dehydration methods. This can include commercial dehydrators, low-temperature ovens, or other controlled drying processes. The goal is to concentrate their flavor and extend their shelf life. These might be sold plain, in bags, or sometimes canned.
Sun-dried tomatoes, as the name explicitly states, are tomatoes that have been naturally dried under the sun’s direct rays. This traditional method, which typically takes about a week, involves slicing ripe tomatoes and laying them out in sunny, arid conditions. This slow, natural process not only removes moisture but also intensifies their sweetness, tartness, and umami flavors, giving them a distinct chewy texture and a deeply concentrated taste that’s hard to replicate with other drying methods.
Our creamy sundried tomato pasta recipe specifically calls for sun-dried tomatoes because their intense, sweet-tart flavor profile is central to the dish’s overall taste. If you’re unable to find traditional sun-dried tomatoes (often packed in olive oil, which is a bonus for cooking!), you can certainly use canned dried tomatoes. While they’ll offer a similar concentrated tomato flavor, they might lack some of the nuanced sweetness and chewiness that genuine sun-dried tomatoes provide. Regardless of your choice, the rich tomato essence will still be a fantastic addition to your creamy pasta sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Creamy Sundried Tomato Pasta
Sundried tomatoes are incredibly versatile and truly shine when paired with rich, creamy elements. They are absolutely fantastic in pasta dishes, especially when incorporated into a creamy sauce like the one in this recipe. Their concentrated, sweet-tart flavor cuts through the richness of the cream beautifully. To truly enhance the flavor profile, I highly recommend sautéing your chicken (or any protein/vegetable) in some of the oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes. This infused oil carries an incredible depth of flavor that subtly permeates the entire dish, creating a more cohesive and delicious experience. Other great pairings include goat cheese, fresh basil, garlic, spinach, and even artichoke hearts.
This creamy sundried tomato chicken pasta is designed to be an indulgent yet satisfying meal. Each generous serving of this delicious dish contains approximately 549 calories. While it’s certainly a flavorful and comforting meal, it’s also packed with protein and a good balance of carbohydrates, making it a fulfilling option for dinner. Remember that calorie counts can vary slightly depending on the exact brands and quantities of ingredients used, but this provides a solid estimate for your meal planning.
While traditional tomato pasta is good, this creamy sundried tomato pasta elevates the experience significantly. The secret lies in the concentrated flavor of sun-dried tomatoes combined with a luscious, velvety cream sauce. To create this superior sauce, you’ll need just a few key ingredients: rich table cream, savory Parmesan cheese, and a careful balance of salt and pepper. The real game-changer is reserving some of that starchy pasta water. This magical liquid, when added to the sauce, helps to emulsify it beautifully, making it even thicker, smoother, and cling better to every piece of pasta and chicken. It transforms a good tomato pasta into an outstanding creamy masterpiece that’s bursting with flavor.
Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Sundried Tomato Pasta
One of the best things about this creamy sundried tomato pasta is how well it holds up for leftovers, making it an excellent candidate for meal prep! To store any remaining portions, allow the pasta to cool completely to room temperature first. Then, transfer it to an airtight container. This pasta will keep beautifully in the fridge for up to 5 days, ensuring you have delicious, convenient meals ready to go throughout the week.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, reheating is a breeze. You can either gently warm it in a pan on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth if the sauce seems too thick, or reheat it in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can cause the cream sauce to separate. Once reheated, a fresh sprinkle of basil and a dusting of Parmesan cheese will bring it back to life, making your pasta as good as new. It’s truly a dish that keeps on giving!
Can You Freeze Creamy Sundried Tomato Pasta?
While this creamy sundried tomato pasta is fantastic for refrigeration and reheating within a few days, I generally wouldn’t recommend freezing it. Like most dishes featuring cream-based sauces, this pasta won’t defrost well. The dairy in the cream tends to separate and curdle when frozen and then thawed, resulting in a grainy, unappetizing texture rather than the smooth, luscious sauce you started with. The pasta itself can also become a bit mushy after freezing and reheating.
If you’re looking for freezer-friendly pasta options for meal prep, it’s best to stick to recipes with tomato-based sauces or oil-based pestos, as these tend to hold up much better in the freezer without compromising texture or flavor. For this particular creamy dish, enjoying it fresh or within a few days from the fridge is the optimal way to experience its delightful qualities.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes to Explore
If you loved this creamy sundried tomato pasta, you’re in for a treat! We have a wide array of other incredible pasta recipes that are just as easy to make and equally satisfying. Whether you’re craving something comforting, quick, or perfect for meal prep, our collection has something for every pasta lover.
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Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
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One Pot Skillet Lasagna Recipe {30 Minutes}
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Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta
Essential Meal Prep Tools for Efficiency
To make your meal prep for this creamy sundried tomato pasta, or any other recipe, as seamless as possible, having the right tools on hand can make all the difference. Investing in a few key items will save you time and ensure your meals are stored and cooked perfectly:
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls to pack up your weekly lunches. They’re excellent for microwave reheating and keeping food fresh.
- Meal prep with your freezer! Butcher Box conveniently delivers a variety of high-quality meats to your door frozen, including chicken, making it easy to stock up.
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through to a safe internal temperature (165°F or 74°C for chicken) every single time, preventing undercooked or overcooked meat.
- **Get my full list of recommended meal prep tools here** for even more helpful kitchen gadgets and essentials.
Creamy Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta {Quick & Easy}
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Ingredients
- 1/2 lb penne pasta
- 1 lb chicken breasts diced (or boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a richer flavor)
- 1 tbsp butter (or margarine, or a quality olive oil)
- 4 cloves garlic minced (fresh is best for flavor)
- 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes julienned, packed in oil (use oil from jar for cooking)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (essential for thickening the sauce)
- 1 cup table cream (or half-and-half for similar richness)
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated (nutritional yeast for dairy-free)
- Salt & pepper to taste (season generously throughout the process)
- 4 cups baby spinach chopped (or arugula for a peppery note)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil finely chopped (for garnish and fresh aroma)
Instructions
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In a large pot, bring generously salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the penne pasta and cook for approximately 9 minutes, or until it reaches an al dente texture. Before draining, make sure to reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water in a glass measuring cup, then drain the remaining pasta water and set the cooked pasta aside.
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Meanwhile, in a large pan or skillet, heat about 1-2 tablespoons of the flavorful oil from the jarred sundried tomatoes over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt & pepper, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is beautifully browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
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Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same pan, allowing it to melt. Then, add the minced garlic and julienned sundried tomatoes, sautéing for another minute until the garlic is fragrant. Pour in the reserved pasta water, table cream, and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until the sauce is smooth and the cheese has melted. Season the sauce with additional salt and pepper to taste, and cook for about a minute until it has thickened slightly to a luscious consistency.
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Return the cooked chicken and pasta to the pan with the creamy sauce. Add the baby spinach and toss everything together to combine thoroughly, cooking until the spinach has wilted completely. Serve your creamy sundried tomato pasta immediately, garnished with a sprinkle of fresh basil, and enjoy every flavorful bite!
Notes
If authentic sun-dried tomatoes are not available, canned dried tomatoes can be used as a convenient substitute.
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, adding a splash of milk or broth if needed to restore consistency.
Nutrition
