Spicy Tomato Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender penne in chili-infused tomato sauce with seared chicken strips. A hearty, flavorful Italian-American main dish ready in 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Chicken

03 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 12 oz)
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Chili Tomato Sauce

08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
10 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
11 - 1 red chili, finely chopped or 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
12 - 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
13 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 teaspoon sugar
16 - Salt and pepper to taste
17 - 1/4 cup reserved pasta water

→ Garnish

18 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
19 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add penne and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Let rest 2 minutes, then slice into strips.
03 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and chili, cooking 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper to the pan. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Stir in reserved pasta water to achieve desired sauce consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
06 - Add cooked penne to the sauce and toss until well coated. Fold in chicken strips or arrange on top.
07 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chili-spiked tomato sauce has just enough kick to wake up your taste buds without overwhelming them.
  • Seared chicken strips add satisfying protein and turn simple pasta into a complete meal.
  • Everything comes together in under 45 minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings when you still want real flavor.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving pasta water, it's the secret to a sauce that clings instead of slides off.
  • Let the chicken rest after cooking or you'll lose all the juices when you slice it.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the pasta, it's much easier to adjust seasoning when it's still in the pan alone.
03 -
  • Toast the dried oregano in the pan for 30 seconds before adding the tomatoes to wake up its flavor.
  • Use kitchen shears to snip the basil directly over the finished dish, it's faster and keeps your cutting board clean.
  • If you want a richer sauce, stir in a tablespoon of butter at the very end, it makes everything glossy and luxurious.
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