Name: Bruschetta Chicken Pasta – Fresh Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Dinner
Ingredients: 12 oz penne, rotini, or spaghetti; 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ½ teaspoon salt; 2½ cups cherry tomatoes, diced; ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional); ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; Fresh mozzarella pearls; Grated Parmesan cheese; Balsamic glaze; Red pepper flakes

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pasta and Chicken:

12 oz penne, rotini, or spaghetti
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt

For the Bruschetta Topping:

2½ cups cherry tomatoes, diced
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Optional Toppings:

Fresh mozzarella pearls
Grated Parmesan cheese
Balsamic glaze
Red pepper flakes

Instructions

Step 1:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup pasta water.

Step 2:

In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix well and set aside to marinate.

Step 3:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced chicken, season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook for 6–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Step 4:

In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Return chicken to the pan, add cooked pasta, and pour in a little reserved pasta water. Toss to combine.

Step 5:

Remove from heat. Spoon the bruschetta mixture over the pasta, toss gently, and top with mozzarella, Parmesan, or balsamic glaze before serving.

Notes

Always add the tomato bruschetta mixture after removing the pan from heat. This keeps the tomatoes fresh and prevents them from becoming watery or mushy.