If you’re craving an Italian-inspired dinner that tastes like it came straight from a romantic Tuscan villa, then this chicken mozzarella pasta is just the ticket. We’re talking tender chicken, al dente penne, and a luscious creamy sauce made from scratch that’ll have you frantically sopping up every last drop with crusty bread.
The star of the show here is definitely the incredibly flavorful sun-dried tomato sauce. It’s rich and decadent while still letting those pops of bright, concentrated tomato flavor shine through along with fragrant garlic, fresh basil, a kick of red pepper flakes and just the right touch of smoky paprika.
Making the sauce from scratch is so worth the minimal effort too. You just sauté some garlic and sun-dried tomatoes in oil, then whisk in cream and shredded mozzarella to form the most velvety, luxurious sauce base. As it simmers away, the cheese melts down into pure cheesy goodness while those tomatoes plump back up and release their tangy, sun-kissed essence.
That glossy orange sauce is dreamy on its own, but then you add in tender penne and those juicy bites of pan-seared chicken to turn it into a full-blown feast. Every forkful is utterly indulgent and flavor-packed, from the robust sun-dried tomatoes and salty mozz to the fragrant basil-garlic aroma and lingering warmth from the crushed red peppers.
The best part is how versatile this sun-dried tomato chicken mozzarella pasta is to customize and make your own. You can easily amp up or tone down the garlic, basil and pepper flakes to suit your spice and seasoning preferences. Or try swapping the chicken for Italian sausage or shrimp for a delicious twist.
No matter which way you take it, this sun-dried tomato penne pasta with chicken and mozz is Italian comfort food at its finest. It’s the kind of homemade meal that instantly transports you to a trattoria on the Mediterranean, with big flavors and even bigger warmth and satisfaction in every twirl of your fork.
The sauce is so luscious, yet still bright and fresh-tasting thanks to the tomatoes and herbs. The mozz adds that signature gooeyness we all crave, while the chicken adds protein for a complete meal. It’s an absolutely irresistible combo of Italian scratch-made goodness with the nostalgic comfort of melty mozzarella baked ziti vibes.
Seriously, this sun-dried tomato chicken mozzarella pasta needs to go into your regular dinner rotation ASAP. It’s rich and indulgent enough for special occasions, yet also easy enough for a cozy weeknight feast at home. Just one whiff of those garlicky tomato-basil aromas is enough to bring the old-world Italian charm right to your kitchen. Mangia!
Chicken Mozzarella Pasta
Ingredients:
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins, sliced
- 1⁄4 tsp each salt, paprika
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 oz sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup half-and-half (or 1⁄2 cup cream + 1⁄2 cup milk)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1⁄4 tsp red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- 1⁄4 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- 1⁄2 cup reserved pasta cooking water
Instructions:
- Cook the penne pasta al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
- Season the sliced chicken with salt and paprika.
- In a skillet, sauté the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove sun-dried tomatoes and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sear the seasoned chicken over high heat for 1-2 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the skillet, bring the half-and-half (or cream/milk combo) to a simmer. Remove from heat and whisk in the shredded mozzarella until smooth and creamy.
- Add the basil, red pepper flakes, and pasta back to the skillet along with the sun-dried tomatoes and chicken. Toss to coat everything in the creamy tomato mozzarella sauce.
- If needed, thin out the sauce with a few splashes of the reserved pasta cooking water until it reaches a nice, saucy consistency.
- Season to taste with additional salt and red pepper flakes. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
- Serve this sun-dried tomato chicken mozzarella pasta immediately while it’s hot and gloriously creamy! Delizioso!
Get ready for a trip to Italian flavor paradise with this over-the-top, scratch-made penne all’arrabbiata! Creamy mozzarella goodness awaits in every single bite.
