Description
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta with Creme Fraiche delivers Mediterranean comfort in one luxurious dish. Rich herbed sauce and tender chicken create a restaurant-quality meal home cooks can easily master.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken thighs or chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
- ⅔ lb (0.3 kg) penne pasta (cooked 1 minute less than package instructions)
- 2 cups creme fraiche
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)
Spices and Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon fine table salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried basil (+ more for serving, optional)
- 1 tablespoon paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and slightly crushed)
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, releasing its rich aroma while gently sautéing minced garlic until it becomes fragrant and lightly golden.
- Introduce chicken pieces to the pan, seasoning with salt and pepper, then cook thoroughly until the meat turns opaque and develops a light golden exterior, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Simultaneously prepare pasta in a separate pot, cooking it slightly less than package recommendations to maintain an al dente texture.
- Reactivate the skillet with residual butter and chicken drippings, incorporating tomato paste and allowing it to caramelize and intensify its flavor profile.
- Infuse the developing sauce with dried basil, paprika, onion powder, and oregano, creating a complex flavor foundation before stirring in smooth crème fraîche.
- Gently fold chopped sun-dried tomatoes and previously cooked chicken into the creamy sauce, allowing flavors to meld and integrate.
- Drain pasta and introduce it directly into the sauce, tossing thoroughly to ensure each strand is lavishly coated with the rich, aromatic mixture.
- Perform a final taste assessment, adjusting seasonings as needed, then garnish with an additional sprinkle of dried basil for a vibrant finishing touch.
- Serve immediately while the dish maintains its optimal temperature and creamy consistency.
Notes
- Optimize garlic flavor by lightly crushing cloves before sautéing, releasing more aromatic compounds and intensifying the overall taste profile.
- Choose high-quality crème fraîche for maximum creaminess, ensuring smooth texture and rich flavor throughout the sauce.
- Prevent pasta from becoming mushy by cooking it slightly underdone, allowing it to finish absorbing sauce during final combining step.
- Accommodate dietary needs by substituting chicken with plant-
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 710
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg