Basil Chicken Pasta is one of my favorite quick and easy meals. Just simmer basil, chicken, and tomatoes together, serve over the pasta of your choice, sprinkle with Parmesan, and enjoy!
This month on the blog, we are making super simple dinners that are healthy, easy, and quick. Last week we made Teriyaki Chicken with Homemade Teriyaki sauce, a dinner that comes together in all of 15 minutes.
Today I’m sharing a recipe that takes a few minutes longer, but is just as simple, Basil Chicken Pasta.
Do you have days where you just do. not. want. to. cook. anything? I have those days all the time, and rather than dig out a take out menu, this is the dish I turn to. Basil Chicken Pasta is low-maintenance food at its best.
To make this dish, you just cube a chicken breast, roughly (sometimes angrily–I don’t know what your day was like) chop some onion and garlic, open a can of tomatoes, add some basil, and simmer away.
You can make your basil chicken pasta with fresh basil or dried, whatever you have on hand. I am a horrible murderer of windowsill herbs, so usually I use dried, but my most recent victim kitchen basil plant is somehow still kicking, so I used fresh basil in the photos.
In about 20 minutes, you wind up with a dish that is light and simple but completely satisfying. I love the flavor the basil gives to the chicken and tomatoes, and since you are serving this over pasta–I usually choose angel hair, but use whatever you want– it’s basically law that you sprinkle it with plenty of Parmesan just before serving.
Plate it up with a side of Butter and Garlic Green Beans or the side of your choice, and your dinner’s going to be a good one!
This recipe serves two, but doubles (or triples–go nuts!) with no major changes to cooking time or method. See recipe notes for details.
Basil Chicken Pasta
Basil Chicken Pasta is one of my favorite quick and easy meals. Just simmer basil, chicken, and tomatoes together, serve over the pasta of your choice, sprinkle with Parmesan, and enjoy!
Ingredients
Basil Chicken Pasta
- 4 ounces angel hair pasta or pasta of choice*
- 1 small (about 8oz) boneless chicken breast cubed 1 inch
- 1/4 cup diced onion about 1/4 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or diced
- 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil or 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
For Topping
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil optional, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Put a pot of lightly salted water on to boil for your pasta.
- Spray a medium skillet, with cooking spray, or drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Brown cubed chicken over medium heat, 3 to 5 minutes. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken while it is cooking.
- Add onions and garlic, and cook until chicken is cooked through and onions begin to turn translucent at the edges, another 3 to 5 minutes.
- Stir in canned tomatoes (and their juices), basil, and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and saucy, about 6 minutes.
- Start your pasta, and cook according to package instructions until al dente.* Drain and divide into two bowls.
- Stir hot sauce into the tomatoes and check the salt level. Add more if needed. Divide the sauce between your two bowls. Top with Parmesan and optional fresh basil.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*If using pasta other than angel hair, you will need to start your pasta earlier in the cooking process if you want everything to finish at the same time. (Or the sauce can sit covered while your pasta finishes cooking. It won't hurt anything.)
Doubling Instructions: If doubling, you may need to add up to 1 to 3 minutes to all cooking times (except pasta) since your pan will be more crowded and food will cook more slowly.
Nutritional Information
Recipe Adapted From AllRecipes
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Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
September 19, 2016 at 5:58 amThe weather here is definitely cooling down! But, I love it! This recipe looks delish! We don’t usually have luck with basil, but have a couple of plants of it inside now and it seems to be working out. I say that quite cautiously. I hope it sticks around. Nothing like fresh basil! I agree…..parm is always used to finished a beautiful pasta dish like this one. And who is gonna say no to cheese 😉 Yum!!
Tracy says
September 20, 2016 at 9:17 pmGlad your indoor basil is working out! Mine is on borrowed time, and the plant and I both know it. 😉
Catherine says
September 19, 2016 at 6:35 amDear Tracy, a perfect meal to start the week off with….this looks so good!
Tracy says
September 20, 2016 at 9:16 pmThanks, Catherine!
Amy says
September 19, 2016 at 7:04 amThis sounds like a perfectly delicious dinner that my two girls would really love. I seriously am obsessed with basil.
Tracy says
September 20, 2016 at 9:16 pmMe too! Wish I could keep more of the fresh stuff alive around here. 😉
Ali @ Home & Plate says
September 19, 2016 at 7:43 amI am always looking for new ways to cook chicken and I have plenty of home grown basil to give this recipe a try. I know my whole family would love it. Perfect midweek meal.
Tracy says
September 20, 2016 at 9:15 pmThanks, Ali!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
September 19, 2016 at 7:44 amI love how quick this is! I’ve been looking for some healthy pasta recipes lately, so will definitely try this with vegetarian ‘chicken’ 🙂
Tracy says
September 20, 2016 at 9:15 pmThanks, Becca. Making it vegetarian sounds like a great swap out!
kathi @ Laughing Spatula says
September 19, 2016 at 8:05 amBig fan of easy dinner recipes for two around here and anything with Angel Hair pasta always catches my eye!
Tracy says
September 20, 2016 at 9:14 pmMine too! Thanks, Kathi. 🙂
Jeni says
June 3, 2018 at 6:43 amHello, again! I, like you, used to have what I called a ‘black thumb ‘, lol. But about 8 months ago, I got one of those large, lush basil plants that they sell at our local green grocer store. You know, the kind you’re noir supposed to replant? Well, I am a rebel, and since then, the plant has become a literal monster. I’m certain that one day, your thumb will at least turn a little more green. It happened to me!
I cannot wait to try this recipe. It sounds super delicious!
Tracy says
June 3, 2018 at 8:41 pmLol, thanks for the vote of confidence, Jeni. It’s been a while since I tried to keep some basil alive I think it’s about time I tried again… 😉 And hope you enjoy the recipe. It really is one of my lazy weeknight favorites!