Tomato Basil Chicken Fettuccine a delicious meal that feels high-class but is truly comforting in taste and super easy to make. This chicken pasta recipe has under 10 ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes, a great quick weekday meal!
Made with fresh tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil, and chicken, create this simple pasta dish with hardly any effort! You can have a pot of delicious chicken basil pasta ready to eat in under 30 minutes, making it a wonderful meal for when you don’t want to spend all evening cooking.
Tomato Basil Pasta
I came across the original recipe for this tomato basil pasta years ago and over time I have adapted it to our family’s tastes and it has only gotten better. This pasta almost tastes like a bruschetta but in pasta form, making it a perfect dinner option for a nice summer evening. It’s pretty heart healthy and the pasta can be swapped for whole grain or healthier options as well. Serve it up with a simple side salad for an easy healthy meal.
How to cook pasta perfectly every time
- Make sure you use a large enough pot to boil your noodles in. If it is too small, you may find that your noodles stick together and you may run out of water before the noodles are completely cooked. To cook one pound of pasta, you should be using at least 4-6 quarts of water. Make sure your pot is big enough to hold the water and the pasta and be able to boil without boiling over. Remember, pasta expands as it cooks!
- Add some salt to the water. Adding salt increases the boiling point of the water, meaning that the water will boil faster and also helps the pasta cook a little bit faster too. I usually add about a tablespoon of salt.
- Test the pasta. Even though there are recommended cooking times for each type of pasta, the only fool-proof method I have found to make sure pasta is done perfectly is to taste test it. About a minute before the recommended cooking time, I use a slotted spoon to get a noodle out of the pot. Rinse with cold water to avoid burning your tongue. If it is still a little crunchy, let it boil another minute or two before testing again.
- Drain the pasta well and rinse with cold water immediately. The cold water will prevent the pasta from continuing to cook and will also prevent the noodles from sticking together.
Tomato Basil Pasta ingredients
Noodles: Use 8 ounces of fettuccini noodles. Other noodles will also work depending on what you have on hand.
Oil: You will need 4 tablespoons of olive oil plus 2 teaspoons. Vegetable oil will also work fine too.
Onion: Add in 1 finely chopped onion or about ¾ cups of chopped onion, if you prefer to measure it out.
Garlic: Use 1 ½ cloves of finely chopped garlic cloves for a wonderful fresh taste.
Tomatoes: You will need 3 medium sized tomatoes (2 ½ cups) that are chopped small. I used grape tomatoes, they taste great and are already small in size.
Chicken: You need 3 cups of cooked, cubed chicken or turkey. I like to use about ½ of a rotisserie chicken to save on time.
Basil: You can use 3 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried basil leaves to add some amazing earthly flavor to this dish.
Salt: Add in just ½ teaspoon of salt to help the flavors feel more pronounced.
Red pepper sauce: This is optional, but you can choose to add in ⅛ teaspoon of red pepper sauce for some added flavor and heat.
How to make Tomato Basil Chicken Fettuccine
Prep
Start by cooking the pasta as directed on package, drain when cooked. Then, lightly toss with olive oil and cover to keep warm.
You also need the chicken cooked before assembling. I use half of a rotisserie chicken to help simplify this meal, but you can make your chicken at home if you’d like. Give this recipe for shredded chicken a try!
Assemble
Next, chop the onion and garlic clove into small pieces.
Then, in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 TBSP of oil and cook the onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender.
Stir in the remaining 2 TBSP of oil, tomatoes, cooked chicken, basil, salt, and red pepper sauce (if desired). All ingredients except the fettuccine, then reduce the heat to medium.
Proceed to cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot, and the tomatoes are soft.
Serve
Plate the cooked fettuccine and scoop the tomato and chicken mixture over the pasta. Serve hot and enjoy!
Tomato-Basil Chicken Fettuccine
Ingredients
- 8 oz fettuccine
- 2 tsp olive or vegetable oil
- ¾ cup onion finely chopped
- 1 ½ cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 ½ cups medium tomatoes chopped- I used grape tomatoes
- 3 cups chicken or turkey breast cooked and cubed
- 4 TBSP olive oil divided- flavored oils like garlic or basil are amazing!
- 3 TBSP chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp red pepper sauce {optional}
Instructions
- Prep: Start by cooking the pasta as directed on package, drain when cooked. Then, lightly toss with olive oil and cover to keep warm.
- You also need the chicken cooked before assembling. I use half of a rotisserie chicken to help simplify this meal, but you can make your chicken at home if you'd like. Give this recipe for shredded chicken a try!
- Assemble: Next, chop the onion and garlic clove into small pieces. Then, in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 TBSP of oil and cook the onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender.
- Stir in the remaining 2 TBSP of oil, tomatoes, cooked chicken, basil, salt, and red pepper sauce (if desired). All ingredients except the fettuccine, then reduce the heat to medium.
- Proceed to cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot, and the tomatoes are soft.
- Serve: Plate the cooked fettuccine and scoop the tomato and chicken mixture over the pasta. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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How long are leftovers good for?
You can keep the leftovers from this dish stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days. Reheat again to warm through before serving.
What goes good with tomato bail chicken pasta?
This dish would be great served alongside some simple greens like cooked green beans or a side salad. Some garlic bread or sliced Italian bread would also pair nicely for a fuller meal if desired.
Need more chicken pasta recipes? Check out these tasty recipes:
- CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
- CREAMY LEMON CHICKEN PASTA
- FIESTA RANCH CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
- SPINACH CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
- MEXICAN CHICKEN ALFREDO PASTA BAKE
- GRILLED ITALIAN CHICKEN & PASTA
- CREAMY CHICKEN, BACON & TOMATO PASTA
- EASY CHICKEN MANICOTTI
Tomato Basil Chicken Fettuccine is a wonderful and filling meal that is super easy to make. This chicken pasta recipe only calls for 9 simple ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes, a great weekday meal!
Martha says
When I saw this on Motivate Me Monday I just had to stop by. I've bookmarked this delicious looking dish to try soon!
Roz Corieri Paige says
What a delicious way to prepare fettucine! Love your photography too! Glad to be one of your newest followers!<br /><br />Roz
Emily Thompson says
Oh yum! This looks amazing! Beautiful shot too! Lovely! Just wanted to let you know this will be featured at my weekend roundup.. Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays at Nap-Time Creations. The post will go up Friday night, but I'm going to be out of town, so I'm doing my commenting now :o) I'd love for you to add the featured button to this post, or pin, share, tweet about the
Lydia G says
I would decrease the amount of oil. Replace with a very low sodium chicken broth. Your calories and fat grams will decrease tremendously