Description
Bruschetta chicken pasta brings Italian sunshine to your dinner table with a symphony of fresh tomatoes, herbs, and tender chicken. Zesty flavors dance together, creating a light yet satisfying meal that will transport you straight to a charming Mediterranean kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Grains:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) penne pasta
Fresh Ingredients and Seasonings:
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup balsamic glaze
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare pasta in boiling water according to package guidelines until al dente, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Generously coat chicken breasts with Italian herbs, ensuring even seasoning with salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature, carefully placing seasoned chicken and cooking until golden brown and fully cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes per side.
- Remove chicken from skillet and slice into thin, uniform strips.
- In the same skillet with remaining oil, sauté minced garlic until aromatic, releasing its rich flavor.
- Add whole cherry tomatoes to the skillet, gently cooking until they begin to soften and slightly burst, creating a vibrant sauce.
- Combine cooked pasta with the warm tomato mixture, ensuring each strand is evenly coated.
- Layer sliced chicken over the pasta, then sprinkle freshly chopped basil leaves for a bright, herbaceous touch.
- Drizzle balsamic glaze across the dish, creating a glossy and tangy finish.
- Garnish generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately while warm for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Swap chicken for tofu or tempeh to create a vegetarian version that maintains the protein-packed profile of the original dish.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe completely gluten-sensitive friendly without compromising taste and texture.
- Enhance the bruschetta flavor by allowing tomatoes to marinate with minced garlic and fresh basil for 15 minutes before cooking, which intensifies the overall taste complexity.
- Prep all ingredients beforehand to streamline cooking process and ensure each component is perfectly timed and cooked to maintain optimal flavor and temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 418 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg