Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes is a cozy, comforting meal that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it creamy and not watery. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Mediterranean Side Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Easy Keto Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad.
Why This Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Is Pure Comfort
- Easy, one-pot recipe
- Creamy, rich sauce
- Juicy, tender chicken
- Bursting with sun-dried tomato flavor
What You'll Need for Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- chicken breasts
- pasta
- sun-dried tomatoes
- heavy cream
- garlic
- onion
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- parmesan cheese
- Optional: fresh basil
- Optional: red pepper flakes
- Optional: parmesan cheese
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- sun-dried tomatoes: Use oil-packed for best flavor.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks chicken and pasta together in one pot. → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Makes the sauce smooth and creamy. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook in olive oil until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pot, cook onion and garlic until softened. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute.
- Step 3: Add uncooked pasta to the pot. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and let it simmer until pasta is al dente.
- Step 4: Stir in heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Return chicken to the pot and cook until heated through.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the pasta. It will continue to cook in the sauce. If it's too watery, let it simmer uncovered to reduce the liquid.
- Pro tip: For a richer sauce, use chicken broth instead of water and add a tablespoon of butter at the end.
- Pro tip: Add spinach or kale for extra nutrients and color.
Storing & Reheating Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomato mixture a day ahead. Cook the pasta just before serving.
Freezing Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for more flavor.
- Best substitution: Use heavy cream for a richer sauce, or half-and-half for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomato mixture a day ahead. Cook the pasta just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too watery, let it simmer uncovered to reduce the liquid.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality pasta — Better texture and flavor. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- pasta
- sun-dried tomatoes
- heavy cream
- garlic
- onion
Seasonings
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- parmesan cheese
Optional Toppings
- fresh basil
- red pepper flakes
- parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook in olive oil until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pot, cook onion and garlic until softened. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute.
- Step 3: Add uncooked pasta to the pot. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and let it simmer until pasta is al dente.
- Step 4: Stir in heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Return chicken to the pot and cook until heated through.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for more flavor.
- Best substitution: Use heavy cream for a richer sauce, or half-and-half for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomato mixture a day ahead. Cook the pasta just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too watery, let it simmer uncovered to reduce the liquid.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomato mixture a day ahead. Cook the pasta just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbs: 65g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes FAQs
Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomato mixture a day ahead. Cook the pasta just before serving.
Don't overcook the pasta. It will continue to cook in the sauce. If it's too watery, let it simmer uncovered to reduce the liquid.
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Yes, cook the chicken and sun-dried tomato mixture in the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours. Add the pasta and heavy cream in the last 20 minutes of cooking.
Serve with a side of Easy Mediterranean Side Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette or Easy Keto Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
