Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 30 minutes. After making this countless times, I’ve discovered the secret to a perfectly creamy, restaurant-quality sauce at home. The sun-dried tomatoes add a burst of flavor, making this dish better than takeout. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fresh Green Bean and Tomato Salad and Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns.
Why This Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Perfectly creamy, restaurant-quality sauce
- Burst of flavor from sun-dried tomatoes
- Better than takeout, ready in just 30 minutes
- Easy, customizable, and freezer-friendly
What You'll Need for Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Pasta
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Heavy cream
- Chicken broth
- Garlic
- Onion
- Spinach
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Optional: Fresh basil
- Optional: Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use chicken thighs or leftover cooked chicken.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Use oil-packed for extra flavor.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks chicken and pasta perfectly in one pot, saving time and cleanup. → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Creates a smooth, creamy sauce right in the pot, no need to transfer to a blender. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Cook chicken in the Instant Pot until tender. Remove and shred.
- Step 2: Sauté onions, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes in the pot. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Step 3: Add pasta and cook until al dente. Stir in heavy cream, spinach, and shredded chicken. Season and serve.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the pasta. It will continue to cook in the sauce.
- Time-saving tip: Use an immersion blender to create a smooth, creamy sauce right in the pot.
- Make-ahead tip: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time. The dish can be frozen before adding the spinach.
Storing & Reheating Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time. The dish can be frozen before adding the spinach.
Freezing Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout
Freeze before adding spinach for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: Use heavy cream for a richer sauce, or half and half for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time. The dish can be frozen before adding the spinach.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little more chicken broth.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant Pot — Cooks chicken and pasta perfectly in one pot, saving time and cleanup. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Pasta
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Heavy cream
- Chicken broth
- Garlic
- Onion
- Spinach
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- Olive oil
- Butter
Optional Toppings
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook chicken in the Instant Pot until tender. Remove and shred.
- Step 2: Sauté onions, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes in the pot. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Step 3: Add pasta and cook until al dente. Stir in heavy cream, spinach, and shredded chicken. Season and serve.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: Use heavy cream for a richer sauce, or half and half for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time. The dish can be frozen before adding the spinach.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little more chicken broth.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze before adding spinach for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway.
- Make ahead: Prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time. The dish can be frozen before adding the spinach.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 580
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 28g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 14g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, prepare the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time. The dish can be frozen before adding the spinach.
Ensure you're using enough liquid and don't overcook the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little more chicken broth.
Yes, this dish is customizable. Add your favorite vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms.
Yes, freeze before adding spinach for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat.
Yes, you can use leftover cooked chicken to save time.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
