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Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Pasta with Mozzarella Sauce

A white sauce-based pasta with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach with lots of mozzarella cheese which makes the dish so creamy. 

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 200 g penne pasta cooked according to package instruction
  • 125 ml reserved pasta water (see notes)
  • 2 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes in oil
  • 3 fat cloves garlic minced
  • 60 g sun-dried tomatoes drained from the jar (see notes)
  • 300 g cut up chicken tenders
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp paprika smoked or regular will work fine
  • 200 ml heavy cream
  • 200 ml whole milk
  • 300 g shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1-2 tsp garlic powder optional
  • Handful or two baby spinach
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Grated parmesan cheese to serve

Instructions

  1. In a skillet over high heat, add 2 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes in oil.

  2. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes (drained from the jar). Cook for a few minutes and then remove the sun-dried tomatoes from the pan and transfer to a plate. (Make sure to remove the skillet from the heat when doing this or lower the heat to avoid the garlic from burning.) Cut the sun-dried tomatoes into smaller pieces and set aside.

  3. To the same skillet over medium heat, add in chicken tenders, salt and paprika. Cook chicken for about 3 minutes per side. Remove the cooked chicken and transfer to a plate.

  4. Again on the same skillet over low-medium heat, add heavy cream and milk. Simmer until you see bubbles on the edges.

  5. Add mozzarella cheese and mix until cheese is melted. 

  6. Add reserved pasta water and stir until combined and thick.  If using garlic powder, add at this point. Stir again to mix.

  7. Put back the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes along with the cooked pasta on the pan and mix until combined. (Do a taste test at this point and adjust accordingly.)

  8. Mix until everything is incorporated. 

  9. Remove the skillet from the heat and add a handful or two of baby spinach.

  10. Serve with red pepper flakes and grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

Recipe Notes

Reserved pasta water is the water you used in boiling your pasta - use the drinking water. You might need more or less than 125 ml. See what works for you. 

I just used a portion of (drained) sun-dried tomatoes from a 280 g container sun-dried tomatoes in oil coz I reserved the rest for another recipe. I will definitely use the whole thing when I make this pasta again.

You can cut up the chicken tenders in smaller pieces.

The total time includes the cooking of pasta and will vary from cook to cook. 

Not all measuring cups/spoons are created equal. Please take time to check my notes regarding the measurements I use. 

I was inspired by Julia's recipe, Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Mozzarella Sauce, to make this superb dish.