Description
Spicy Chicken Pasta is a vibrant and flavorful dish that transforms simple ingredients into a culinary delight. Featuring tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a zesty tomato sauce infused with garlic and red pepper flakes, this recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests. With the ability to customize spice levels and easily adapt for meal prep, it’s a dinner winner that everyone at the table will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 8 oz penne or fettuccine pasta
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces and mince garlic.
- Cook the pasta: Boil salted water, add pasta, and cook until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Sauté the chicken: In a skillet over medium heat, drizzle olive oil and cook diced chicken until golden brown (5-7 minutes).
- Add garlic and tomatoes: Stir in minced garlic, cook until fragrant (1 minute), then add canned tomatoes and simmer.
- Create your sauce: Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- Toss in pasta: Mix cooked pasta into the skillet; add reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
- Add finishing touches: Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan cheese and chopped basil; serve hot.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 350g)
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: For added nutrition, consider tossing in vegetables like bell peppers or spinach. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days. Reheat with a splash of cream to maintain creaminess.