A pan of Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta that is both hearty and cozy at its core. Bursting with bold flavors, this rustic dish is anything but boring. And because it's in and out of the skillet in under 30 minutes, it's a perfect weeknight meal that will add pizzazz to any table.
Tender cubed chicken breasts are rubbed with spices and Italian seasoning to enhance the flavors of this quick and easy dish. Rigatoni noodles soak up a delectable smoky sauce that is sure to please even your picky eaters.
How to Make this Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta Dish
Main Ingredients you will Need
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. These are cut into about one-inch cubes as consistently as possible so they will cook evenly in the skillet.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Make sure and grab the oil-packed jar of sun-dried tomatoes. They need to be completely drained but reserve the oil to cook the chicken, onions, and garlic. You can use the dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes but it adds extra effort to the recipe in order for them to be rehydrated.
Onions and Garlic. The onions are sliced thin and the garlic is either minced or thinly sliced as well.
Dry White Wine. Avoid any type of sweet or what is labeled "cooking" wine. You don't have to buy expensive wine, but I wouldn't go with a really cheap bottle either. A bottle of unoaked chardonnay that is between eight and ten dollars is a great choice. You can also grab a pinot grigio or a sauvignon blanc.
I'm not a lover of "white" wine. I prefer a dry red to drink, so it's not economical for me to buy a whole bottle of white for such a small amount in this recipe. Many would disagree with me, but the small individual bottles that come in a pack, have worked just as well in most recipes of mine that call for wine.
Half and Half. If you really want to splurge and create a creamier sauce than this one, you can go with whole whipping cream. But the half and half in this recipe has much fewer calories and fat than heavy cream and I find it's just as tasty.Spices & Herbs for the Rub and Sauce - Smoked Paprika, Garlic and Onion Powder, Italian Season and Red Pepper Flakes. This is what gives gusto to this Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken dish. You can substitute the smoked paprika for regular. I am "in love" with smoked paprika. It is probably my favorite spice of the day right now. The red pepper flakes add a nice bit of heat to the dish. You can add or delete according to your family's liking.
Fresh Basil and Spinach. The basil subtly adds a sweet and savory bite to your palate while the spinach tops this recipe with a light fresh component. Both of these enrich the dish with beautiful color and dimension.
Rigatoni. Last but definitely not least is the pasta which brings everything together and contributes extra texture. You can choose any type of pasta that you like. I like rigatoni because they are large and tube-shaped with ridges to soak up all that scrumptious sauce.
Step #1 - Cook the Rigatoni Pasta
Rigatoni is a durable pasta that can stand up to a hearty rich sauce like the one in this Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta dish. Nobody likes mushy pasta, therefore It needs to be cooked al dente which means to be still firm when bitten.
How to Cook Rigatoni. Bring four quarts of water with a tablespoon of salt to boil in a large pot. You can cover the pot with a lid to speed up the boiling process. Add eight ounces of the pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes until they are al dente. Sir frequently with a long-handled spoon to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other or the pot. Drain the noodles in a colander but reserve a cup or more of the pasta water to add to the recipe later. Place the noodles back into the pot and toss immediately with a small amount of olive oil or butter.
Step #2 - Prepare the Rub and Sprinkle it on the Cubes of Chicken
In a small bowl combine smoked paprika, salt and pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning then sprinkle on all of the chicken breast cubes. Toss and rub the chicken until all the pieces are coated with spices and Italian seasoning.
Step #3 - Cook the Chicken
It doesn't take long for the chicken to reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Heat a large skillet over medium heat until the skillet is almost smoking. Add one tablespoon of oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes. Swirl the oil until it covers the bottom of the skillet. Place the chicken cubes in a single layer and cook for two minutes without turning them. Turn and cook for three to four minutes longer until they are no longer pink in the center. Remove the chicken from the skillet onto a plate, cover with foil to keep warm, and set aside.
Step #4 - Sauté Onions and Garlic then Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes
In the same skillet and again over medium heat, pour one or two tablespoons of oil from the sun-dried tomato jar and heat until hot. Add the thinly sliced onions and sauté for four or five minutes until they are tender. Add the garlic and sauté for no more than one minute, otherwise, it will burn and become bitter.
Sun-dried tomatoes contribute an intense sweet-tart flavor to the dish. They are very potent so you don't need more than an 8-ounce jar. Make sure and drain the tomatoes well and blot them with paper towels to absorb the additional oil.
How to Choose Sun-Dried Tomatoes:
- For convenience sake, choose the julienned cut ones.
- Look for the jars that contain extra virgin olive oil. When you cook the chicken, onion, and garlic in the oil, it adds wonderful flavor because the tomatoes have been soaking in it.
- If you use dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes they will need to be rehydrated first. In a heat-proof bowl, dissolve Β½ teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Placed the tomatoes in the water and cover them with a plate. Heat the tomatoes in the microwave for two minutes then let them sit until the skins can be easily pierced with a fork. Drain well and blot with paper towels.
- If you are using rehydrated tomatoes, you need olive oil when cooking the chicken, onions and garlic.
Step #5 - Pour in the Dry White Wine
Cooking with wine intensifies the flavor and aroma of the food. White wine works great with dairy which is why the half and half pairs well with this white wine.
Once you have poured in the wine and heated it to a light boil then deglaze the pan which simply means to scrape all those bits and pieces from the bottom of the pan. These brown bits are called fond and add intense flavor to the sauce. Turn the heat down and simmer until most of the liquid is evaporated.
Step #6 - Pour in the Half and Half and Add Seasonings
The creamy aspect of the sauce comes from the half and half that is poured in once the wine has evaporated. A cup seems like a lot but it actually is needed for the rich sauciness found in the Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta.
Along with all of the other flavors that make this dish so tempting the spices contribute a tantalizing depth to the sauce. Add salt and pepper to your taste preference. Smoked paprika bestows the sauce with a smoky component that I am personally crazy about and crave often. Garlic and onion powder add another onion/garlic layer. And the red pepper flakes bring a nice bit of heat. These spices are partly responsible for the complexity of taste that I'm sure will blow your mind once it hits your tastebuds.
Step #7 - Combine Chicken, chopped Basil, Spinach, and Rigatoni in the Sauce
The culmination of this Chicken and Sundried Tomato Pasta happens once you combine the chicken, chopped basil, and fresh baby spinach with the sauce in the skillet. The rigatoni pasta and reserved pasta water are folded in. It's at this juncture that your mouth begins to water and your taste buds begin doing a little jingle as they wait for the arrival of this delectable rustic pasta dish.
How to Store Leftover Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta
The amazing secret of this dish is that the flavors intensify when eaten the following day or days. The leftovers may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
How to Reheat this Recipe
In the Microwave: Place the leftovers in a heat-proof bowl and heat for one minute then stir. Continue cooking at 30-second If intervals, stirring between each until the pasta dish is thoroughly warmed. If it seems a little dry, you may need to add a splash of half and half.
Stove-top: In a saucepan over low heat, add the leftovers and stir until it is heated through. Make sure and stir often so it does not stick to the pan and burn. Adding a splash of half and half will help to reinvigorate the dish if the pasta is dry.
Can You Freeze this pasta dish?
I do not recommend freezing this recipe. Dairy does not freeze well, because it tends to break when thawed. And it leaves a texture that is very unappealing.
If you like this Chicken and Sundried Tomato Pasta dish, check out more:
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Thai Drunken Noodles with Shrimp
Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce with Fettuccini
Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs
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Shrimp Scampi with Tomatoes and Spinach
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PrintCreamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
This pan of Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta is both hearty and cozy at its core. Bursting with bold flavors, this rustic dish is anything but boring. And because it's in and out of the skillet in under 30 minutes, it's a perfect weeknight meal that will add pizzaz to any table.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Chicken & Pasta
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Rub for the Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Β½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- 1 Β½ pounds Chicken Breasts, cubed
- 2-3 tablespoons Oil from an Oil Packed Sun-Dried Tomato Jar, divided
- 1 large Sweet Onion, sliced thin
- 6 Garlic Cloves, minced or sliced thin
- 8-ounce jar of Julienne Sun-Dried Tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup Dry White Wine
- 1 cup Half and Half
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Β½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- Β½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ΒΌ-Β½ cup Pasta Water
- 8-10 ounces Rigatoni, cooked to al dente
- ΒΌ cup Basil, chopped
- 2 cups Fresh Baby Spinach
Instructions
Cooking the Rigatoni
- In a large saucepan, add 4 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.
- Bring the water to a complete boil, add 8-10 ounces of Rigatoni, and stir immediately to keep the pasta from sticking.
- For an al dente texture, cook the pasta for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water. Drain the rest and set it aside.
Rub for the Chicken
- In a small bowl combine, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, Β½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning.
- Sprinkle the rub on the 1 Β½ pounds of cubed chicken coating each piece.
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil from the sun-dried tomato jar.
- Add the spiced coated chicken to the hot oil and let cook for 2 minutes before turning them.
- Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes or until no longer pink on the inside, internal temperature at 160°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet and cover with foil to keep warm and set aside.
- In the same skillet over medium heat, add 1-2 tablespoon of the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar.
- Add 1 large thinly sliced onion to the skillet and sauté for 4-5 minutes until tender.
- Add 6 thinly sliced or minced garlic cloves, and 8-ounce jar of drained julienned sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for one minute.
- Add 1 cup of dry white wine and cook until most of the liquid is evaporated. Scrape the bottom of the skillet to remove any bits and pieces.
- Add 1 cup of half and half, salt and pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and Β½ teaspoon each of onion and garlic powder. Stir until all is combined.
- Add ΒΌ-1/2 cup of pasta water until the right consistency of creaminess.
- Add 8 ounces cooked rigatoni and gently stir until everything is coated with the sauce.
- Fold in ΒΌ cup of chopped fresh basil and 2 cups of fresh baby spinach.
- Garnish with fresh basil.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- You can choose any type of pasta that you like. I like rigatoni because they are large, tube-shaped with ridges to soak up all that scrumptious sauce.
- For convenience sake, choose the julienned cut sun-dried tomatoes.
- Look for the sun-dried tomato jars that contain extra virgin olive oil.
- If you use dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes they will need to be rehydrated first. In a heat-proof bowl, dissolve Β½ teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Placed the tomatoes in the water and cover them with a plate. Heat the tomatoes in the microwave for two minutes then let them sit until the skins can be easily pierced with a fork. Drain well and blot with paper towels.
- If you are using rehydrated tomatoes, you need olive oil when cooking the chicken, onions and garlic.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: β of the dish
- Calories: 444
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 599 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 89 mg
Keywords: sun-dried tomato chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato chicken pasta spinach, sun-dried tomato pasta creamy, creamy sun-dried tomato chicken pasta
Carrie Tyler says
So yummy!!! I love a good chicken and pasta dinner and this one somes delicious! Sun dried tomato brings so much tang and flavor! Thanks for this one π
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Carrie. I do think the sun-dried tomatoes in this recipe make the dish pop. Hope you enjoy.
jill says
Kristy - This looks amazing. One of my favorite things to eat is pasta and I have most of these ingredients available in my pantry right now. Thanks so much for sharing this dish, sending the link to my sister right now!
Kristy Murray says
Thanks a million Jill. And I agree about pasta. I think I'm addicted to any kind of it. Hope you enjoy!
mimi rippee says
Wonderful. Unfortunately my husband doesn't like sun-dried tomatoes, so often I sub with semi-sec tomatoes, to which he hasn't objected. But great recipe!
Kristy Murray says
Thanks Mimi. Good idea about subbing semi-sec tomatoes for those that do not like sun-dried.
Eric says
The seasonings on both the chicken and in the sauce are amazing. And of course who doesn't love Rigatoni pasta? Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Eric. I do have a culinary soft spot for rigatoni pasta and it goes quite well in this dish.