Description
Savor the delightful harmony of “Chicken Mozzarella Pasta” where tender chicken meets creamy cheese in a comforting Italian-inspired dish. Melted mozzarella and succulent chicken create an irresistible pasta experience you won’t soon forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Seasonings and Herbs:
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Pasta and Sauce Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) penne pasta
- 1 can (14 ounces/400 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Fresh basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Sprinkle chicken with aromatic seasoning, ensuring even coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Sear the seasoned chicken in a hot skillet with olive oil, developing a golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture. Transfer to a separate plate once perfectly cooked.
- Without cleaning the skillet, sauté minced garlic and diced onions until they become translucent and release their fragrant essence.
- Introduce dried basil, oregano, and crushed tomatoes, creating a robust sauce base that will coat the pasta with rich Mediterranean flavors.
- Stream chicken broth into the skillet, allowing the liquid to simmer and marry the ingredients’ complex profiles.
- Simultaneously, prepare penne pasta in boiling water until achieving a perfect al dente texture, then carefully drain while reserving a small amount of cooking liquid.
- Merge the pasta directly into the simmering sauce, gently tossing to ensure complete and even coating.
- Reintroduce the previously cooked chicken into the skillet, folding it seamlessly into the sauce-coated pasta.
- Generously scatter mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the surface, creating a luxurious melted blanket that will transform the dish into a creamy, indulgent experience.
- Finish with a flourish of freshly torn basil leaves, providing a bright, aromatic garnish that elevates the entire culinary composition.
Notes
- Customize chicken seasoning with Italian herbs like rosemary or thyme for extra flavor depth.
- Choose low-moisture mozzarella to prevent watery sauce and ensure better cheese melting.
- Substitute gluten-free penne for those with wheat sensitivities while maintaining recipe’s authentic taste.
- Prepare chicken ahead of time and refrigerate for quicker weeknight meal assembly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg