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Close-up of rigatoni pasta tossed with chunks of chicken and fresh tomatoes, topped with basil, ready for Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce.

Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce with Slow Simmer Flavor

This recipe provides instructions for making a quick Italian-style pasta dish featuring chicken, fresh tomatoes, and basil. It uses simple steps to create a flavorful sauce that mimics a longer simmer time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 2 pieces Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts sliced into bite-sized pieces
For the Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil can substitute with avocado oil
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes halved
For the Pasta
  • 8 ounces Pasta your choice, e.g., spaghetti or penne
For Flavor
  • 1 cup Fresh Basil can substitute with dried basil
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese can use nutritional yeast for dairy-free option
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Large pot
  • Meat thermometer

Method
 

  1. Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook chicken until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
  2. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
  3. Boil salted water in a pot and cook pasta according to package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining.
  4. Combine cooked chicken with tomato and garlic mixture. Stir in drained pasta and basil, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce consistency. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil and olive oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 30gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

This recipe is designed for quick preparation. If you prefer a deeper flavor, you can let the tomato and garlic mixture simmer for an extra 5 minutes before adding the chicken back in.

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