Creamy Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
This Creamy Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta is rich, creamy and packed with garlicky flavor for an easy and comforting restaurant-style dinner you can have on the table in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound mezze rigatoni
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil, reserved from the jar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 teaspoon Calabrian chili paste, optional
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2½ cups rotisserie chicken, shredded or chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 cup reserved pasta water, as needed
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Meanwhile, heat the sun-dried tomato oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened.
- Add the garlic and Calabrian chili paste and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until slightly thickened. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the chicken, spinach, and cooked pasta and toss until the spinach is wilted and everything is evenly coated. Add reserved pasta water, a little at a time, as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh basil. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Divide among bowls and top with additional Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Storage:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of cream, milk, or broth to loosen the sauce if needed. Serve hot.
- We don't recommend freezing this, as the sauce can break once frozen and thawed. Enjoy fresh for the best results.
- Use sun-dried tomato oil for sautéing. The flavorful oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes adds an extra depth of flavor when sautéing the garlic, vs. regular oil.
- Gently simmer the cream sauce. Don't let the cream sauce boil too hard, or it can break. Keep it at a gentle simmer.
- Reserve some pasta water. Be sure to set some aside before fully draining it, in case the sauce needs thinning after combining with the pasta.
- Perfect recipe for leftover chicken too. Since the chicken is shredded, I buy a rotisserie chicken from the store or use leftover roasted chicken breasts for ease.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 845kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 45gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 24gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 198mgSodium: 642mgPotassium: 627mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2553IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 242mgIron: 2mg
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