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    Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken and Mozzarella

    Published: Jan 30, 2018 / 1,138 Comments

    4.1M shares
    • Facebook110.7K
    Recipe Print

    Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes - Italian-inspired dinner with the best homemade creamy pasta sauce!  The sun-dried tomato pasta sauce is made from scratch using basil, red pepper flakes, garlic, paprika, cream, and shredded Mozzarella cheese.

    chicken mozzarella penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes on a white plate
    I am a huge fan of pasta, and some of the most popular pasta recipes on this site include this chicken mozzarella pasta that you are reading right now, creamy chicken pasta with bacon, and pesto chicken pasta.  One thing all these pasta recipes have in common is that they use creamy, comforting sauces.

    If you want to try chicken pasta that is more refreshing, without the creamy sauce, I whole-heartedly recommend family favorite chicken pasta with spinach and tomatoes or super flavorful Italian sausage pasta.

    Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken

    • This recipe features sun-dried tomatoes and basil.  Both ingredients are popular in Italy and in the Mediterranean region.
    • The most prominent flavor in this recipe is the homemade sun-dried tomato sauce. The sauce is made from scratch by combining cream with shredded Mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, and red pepper flakes.
    • Cooked chicken and penne pasta are then smothered in this delicious creamy Mozzarella pasta sauce. There is enough sauce to coat every single bite.

    Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes in a stainless steel skillet

    Ingredients for sun-dried tomato sauce

    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 4 oz sun-dried tomatoes
    • olive oil
    • salt
    • paprika
    • basil
    • 1 cup half-and-half (or ½ cup heavy cream + ½ cup milk)
    • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

    How to make sun-dried tomato sauce

    1. In a large skillet, cook 3 cloves of minced garlic and 4 oz of chopped sun-dried tomatoes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil on high-medium heat for about 1 minute.
    2. Add ½ cup of heavy cream + ½ cup of milk (or 1 cup of half-and-half) to the same skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer.
    3. Add 1 cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese.
    4. Simmer and stir until the cheese melts and forms a creamy pasta sauce.
    5. Add 1 tablespoon of dried basil, paprika, and at least ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
    6. Season with about ¼ teaspoon of salt.

    Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken  on a white plate

    Cooking Tips

    • Use either sun-dried tomatoes without oil or sun-dried tomatoes in oil (in a jar).  Note: if using sun-dried tomatoes in oil (in a jar), make sure to drain sun-dried tomatoes from oil, before using them.
    • Sprinkle a small amount of paprika over the chicken before cooking - it adds flavor as well as the color to the dish.
    • Make sure to reserve some pasta water as you will DEFINITELY need it to thin out the cream sauce.
    • Feel free to increase the amount of spices for this recipe: basil, red pepper flakes, paprika.  This will make the sun-dried tomato sauce even more flavorful!
    • Make sure to season the chicken mozzarella pasta with just the right amount of salt.   That means you might have to add more salt.  Salt will enhance the flavors of basil and sun-dried tomatoes.

    How to Make Chicken Mozzarella Pasta

    1) In a large skillet, on medium heat sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes in the olive oil. Remove the sun-dried tomatoes from the skillet.
    2) Season sliced chicken with salt and paprika.
    3) Add the chicken to the skillet and cook on high heat.

    sun-dried tomatoes and cooked chicken in a stainless steel skillet

    4) Add back the sun-dried tomatoes.  Add half-and-half and shredded Mozzarella cheese.
    5) Bring the mixture to boil, then reduce to simmer and stir the sun-dried tomato sauce until the cheese melts.

    Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken in a stainless steel skillet

    6) Add spices: basil, crushed red pepper flakes, salt.

    7) Add cooked and drained penne pasta and stir to combine.

    Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken on a white plate

    More recipes featuring sun-dried tomato pasta

    • Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Mozzarella Sauce features shrimp instead of chicken.
    • Asiago Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach - this sun-dried tomato pasta is made even more flavorful with the addition of Asiago cheese and spinach.
    • Scallop Pasta features scallops - another protein you can use in place of chicken in a recipe that is otherwise very similar to this one.
    • Creamy Mozzarella Pasta with Smoked Sausage is a great choice if you want to make the same pasta with sausage.
    • Sun-Dried Tomato and Mushroom Pasta is the meatless version of this recipe.

     

    sun-dried tomato chicken pasta with mozzarella cream sauce
    4.79 from 1405 votes

    Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken and Creamy Mozzarella Sauce

    This easy Italian-inspired Chicken Mozzarella Pasta features sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, red pepper flakes, and paprika.  The sun-dried tomato sauce is the star of this recipe!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories per serving 641 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    • 3 garlic cloves , minced
    • 4 oz sun-dried tomatoes
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 lb chicken breast tenderloins , sliced
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 cup half and half (or use ½ cup heavy cream + ½ cup milk)
    • 1 cup mozzarella cheese , shredded (do not use fresh Mozzarella, use pre-shredded Mozzarella)
    • 8 oz penne pasta (for gluten free, use gluten free brown rice pasta)
    • 1 tablespoon basil
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ cup reserved cooked pasta water or more
    • ¼ teaspoon salt to taste

    Instructions 

    • In a large skillet, sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes (drained from oil) in 2 tablespoons of olive oil (reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes jar) for 1 minute on medium heat until the garlic is fragrant. 
    • Remove the sun-dried tomatoes from the skillet, leaving the olive oil.   
    • Add sliced chicken (salted and lightly covered in paprika for color) and cook on high heat for 1 minute on each side. Remove from heat.
    • Cook pasta according to package instructions.    Reserve some cooked pasta water. Drain the pasta.
    • Slice sun-dried tomatoes into smaller pieces and add them back to the skillet with chicken.  
    • To make creamy pasta sauce, add half-and-half (see substitution for half-and-half in the Recipe Notes section below) and Mozzarella cheese to the skillet, and bring to a gentle boil. 
    • Immediately reduce to simmer and cook, constantly stirring, until all cheese melts and creamy sauce forms. 
    • Add cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the cream sauce, and stir to combine. 
    • Add 1 tablespoon of basil, and at least ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
    • If the creamy sauce is too thick: Add about ½ cup of reserved cooked pasta water to the skillet to thin it out.   Do not add all of pasta water at once - you might need less or more of it.  
    • Season the chicken pasta with salt and more red pepper flakes, to taste, if needed. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes for flavors to combine.
    • Note: Make sure to salt the dish just enough to bring out of the flavors of basil and sun-dried tomatoes.  

    Notes

    • What is half-and-half?  Substitute ½ cup of milk + ½ cup of heavy cream for 1 cup of half-and-half.
    • If using sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil (in a jar), make sure to drain sun-dried tomatoes from oil, before using them. Reserve 2 tablespoons of this drained olive oil.
    • Do not use fresh Mozzarella.  Fresh Mozzarella is usually sold as a large ball or small balls in a brine or water solution.    Do not shred fresh Mozzarella.  Use pre-shredded Mozzarella cheese sold in bags.  

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken and Creamy Mozzarella Sauce
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    641
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    24
    g
    37
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    9
    g
    56
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    117
    mg
    39
    %
    Sodium
     
    700
    mg
    30
    %
    Potassium
     
    1626
    mg
    46
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    62
    g
    21
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    12
    g
    13
    %
    Protein
     
    43
    g
    86
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    810
    IU
    16
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    13.7
    mg
    17
    %
    Calcium
     
    258
    mg
    26
    %
    Iron
     
    3.9
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword chicken mozzarella pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta
    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelly D

      September 12, 2023 at 6:21 pm

      This was a HUGE hit with my husband and teenage son. I was asked to put it in the favourite meals.. Thank you very much!

      Reply
    2. MollyL

      September 09, 2023 at 12:59 am

      I’m not a great cook but I have been trying to learn more recipes and not rely on takeout/delivery or frozen meals.

      This recipe was pretty quick & easy to make (will be even easier next time), tasted delicious. My husband said it’s his favorite meal I’ve ever made for him! Definitely will be making this again.

      I followed the recipe exactly but I didn’t actually measure the salt or red pepper flakes. I’m sure I used a little more than the 1/4 Ts the recipe states though, to my personal taste preference. I did not need any of the reserved pasta water but do recommend you keep it available in case you want the sauce thinned out a little.

      Reply
    3. Sullivan

      August 22, 2023 at 11:14 pm

      I will be trying it with fresh basil, because it rocks! Hmmmm, not sure about the bargain brand mozz. I always have better luck with the fresh mozz. Will keep you informed!

      Reply
    4. Jeanna Bruce

      August 14, 2023 at 9:52 pm

      This was very good. I added more liquid and cheese to make more sauce and added chopped spinach at the end for some additional color and a bit of extra nutrients. I'll definitely be working this into the rotation!

      Reply
    5. Francine

      August 08, 2023 at 6:08 pm

      Delicious and easy to prepare when you have all the ingredients.

      Reply
    6. Candy

      August 02, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      This is delicious and I will be making it again and again. I suggest increasing the sauce because you are going to want more of that!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        August 11, 2023 at 8:55 pm

        My husband absolutely loved this! My picky kids wouldn't try it but this time, thats fine by me, more for us!! One question for more sauce, double everything minus the chicken or chicken and roasted tomatoes? What would you do for lots of extra sauce?

        Reply
    7. Kellie

      July 30, 2023 at 7:27 am

      Love this recipe! I've made it twice in the last month. I added some bacon and onion. Also doubled the 1\2 & 1\2 to make it saucier. I used a large pasta but I think it would be great with angel hair.

      Reply
    8. Natalia Pohl

      July 24, 2023 at 12:08 pm

      Equally lovely in its cruelty-free version with plant-based chicken strips!!! 🙂

      Reply
    9. Linda

      June 15, 2023 at 8:42 pm

      Delicious and uncomplicated. I may grate some Parmesan or Romano into the sauce next time for a little bite, as we don’t care for red pepper flakes. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 23, 2023 at 9:19 pm

        Linda, so glad you gave this recipe a try! Adding grated Parmesan would be delicious! ❤️

        Reply
    10. Patricia

      June 05, 2023 at 10:33 pm

      Simply delicious, recipe is a keeper! Easy to follow and make. Made it for dinner, we loved it. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 6:53 pm

        Patricia, so glad this recipe was a success! ❤️

        Reply
    11. Rozanne

      June 03, 2023 at 9:11 am

      Question : Is it fresh or dried basil?

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 7:02 pm

        Rozanne, I used dried basil.

        Reply
        • Dave

          August 26, 2023 at 10:15 am

          I tried fresh basil, but the basil flavor seems to get lost in the other flavors.

          Reply
    12. Linda

      May 15, 2023 at 9:02 am

      Made this for family get together and it was amazing!

      Reply
      • Anne Berard

        May 17, 2023 at 8:54 am

        Can this be made ahead

        Reply
        • Julia

          June 07, 2023 at 8:06 pm

          Anne, I wouldn't make this ahead because cheese-based creamy sauces don't reheat well. They thicken and/or separate.

          Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 8:12 pm

        Linda, thank you for this wonderful review! 🙂

        Reply
    13. Andra

      May 06, 2023 at 1:01 pm

      Can I use chicken thighs in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Tiffany

        May 29, 2023 at 7:44 pm

        Why do you say to not use fresh mozzarella? I would never buy the pre-shredded stuff. They coat it in silicone to prevent clumping. Gross.

        Reply
        • Julia

          June 07, 2023 at 7:24 pm

          Tiffany, when I say not to use fresh Mozzarella, I mean soft Mozzarella balls that are sold in tubs of water.

          What I used was Mozzarella labeled as Part-Skim, Low-Moisture. It is sold either as pre-shredded or as a rectangular block of cheese that you can shred yourself. You can use either. Just don't use fresh Mozzarella.

          Reply
          • Sullivan

            August 22, 2023 at 11:18 pm

            It is not clear to me why you can't use fresh mozzerella? How about if you use fresh mozz w/out the water it comes with. Pray tell...

            Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 8:51 pm

        Andra, yes, you can use skinless boneless chicken thighs.

        Reply
    14. Marsha

      April 24, 2023 at 10:27 am

      Love this. I am wondering if it can be frozen.

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 9:35 pm

        Marsha, I wouldn't recommend freezing cheese-based creamy sauce. They lose their texture and don't reheat well at all.

        Reply
    15. Kristi

      April 23, 2023 at 8:16 pm

      I don't know if I somehow went wrong somewhere but 8oz of pasta for the 4 servings recipe was NOT enough pasta, I have so much extra sauce! That said the flavor was PHENOMENAL so this is still getting a full 5 stars. Like, absolutely insane how tasty this came out, just wish I'd had more pasta to soak up all that fabulous sauce!

      Thanks for sharing! I can count on one hand the amount of recipes I've made that I've found randomly searching google that actually came out good enough to make a second time. Will DEFINITELY be making this again!

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 07, 2023 at 9:41 pm

        Kristi, I love reading rave review like this - thank you! ❤️

        I do personally like to have more sauce and less pasta, so feel free to add more pasta next time!

        Reply
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