Description
A comforting creamy chicken pasta dish with a spicy twist, perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 9 ounces penne
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 14 ounces chicken fillets (cut into bite-sized chunks)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 shallot (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sambal oelek (more or less to taste)
- 5.5 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 1 ¾ cups puréed tomatoes
- ½ cup cream (20% fat)
- 2 ounces grated Parmesan (more for serving)
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
- Begin by bringing a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Toss in the penne and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. When done, drain and reserve ¼ cup of the cooking water.
- In a large non-stick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and sauté until they start to brown, roughly 5 minutes.
- Once the chicken has browned, stir in the chopped shallot and minced garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes until the onion softens and becomes fragrant.
- Sprinkle in the salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, sage, and paprika. Cook for another 30 seconds, stirring constantly to release the aromatic flavors.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to release the brown bits. This step adds a ton of flavor!
- Next, stir in the tomato paste and sambal oelek. Allow the mixture to cook for about a minute, keeping an eye on it until it starts to darken slightly.
- Toss in the cherry tomatoes and give them about 2 minutes in the pan. They will soften up beautifully.
- Now it’s time for the puréed tomatoes! Add them to the skillet, bring the mixture to a boil, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Pour in the cream, followed by the grated Parmesan and chopped parsley. Stir everything together and let it cook for another minute. If the sauce looks a bit too dry, don’t hesitate to add a splash of that reserved pasta cooking water!
- Taste and adjust the salt if needed. Finally, add your cooked penne to the skillet, tossing it well to coat all the pasta in that creamy goodness.
- Divide the pasta among bowls, topping each with additional Parmesan, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, and a dash of black pepper. Get ready to enjoy!
Notes
Don’t overcook the chicken; adjust the spice level according to your taste; use fresh herbs for better flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: creamy chicken, spicy pasta, quick dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal