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Chicken Marinara Pasta Contains Penne pasta and sliced grilled chicken breast tossed in a rich tomato marinara sauce, garnished with fresh parsley, basil, and grated parmesan cheese in a black skillet.

Chicken Marinara Pasta Recipe with Tender Chicken and Rich Tomato Sauce

By Nancy
Make this Chicken Marinara Pasta Recipe with tender chicken, pasta, and a rich homemade marinara sauce for an easy Italian-inspired family dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course, Pasta Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 6
Calories 420 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Pasta 12 oz: Penne or spaghetti
  • Chicken breast 1.5 lbs: Boneless
  • Marinara sauce 24 oz jar or homemade
  • Olive oil 2 tbsp
  • Garlic (4 cloves minced
  • Yellow onion 1, diced
  • Italian seasoning 1 tbsp: Oregano, basil, thyme
  • Parmesan cheese ½ cup, grated
  • Fresh basil a handful, torn
  • Red pepper flakes optional, ½ tsp
  • Salt and black pepper: To taste. Always.

Instructions
 

1. Season and Sear the Chicken

  • Pat the chicken dry, then season it generously with salt and pepper. Sear it in hot olive oil until golden on both sides, roughly four minutes per side.
    Pull it out and set it aside on a plate
    Three seasoned chicken breasts searing until golden brown in olive oil inside a black skillet,

2. Build the Aromatic Base

  • In that same pan, toss in the diced onion and let it soften for a couple of minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Add the garlic right after — not before
    Cooking onions and garlic in olive oil within a large frying pan

3. Simmer the Marinara

  • Pour in the marinara sauce, then stir in the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, if you’re using them. Let it bubble gently for about 10 minutes,
    Spices, oregano, and chili flakes topped onto a thick, bubbling red pasta sauce with chopped onions cooking in a large skillet

4. Return the Chicken

  • Slide the seared chicken back into the sauce, along with any juices pooled on the plate.
    Let everything simmer together until the chicken is cooked through, around 8 to 10 minutes.
    Grilled chicken strips nestled in a rich, simmering red marinara sauce with onions and garlic, cooking in a large skillet

5. Cook the Pasta

  • While the sauce simmers away, boil your pasta in well-salted water until just shy of al dente. Set aside a big cup of the starchy cooking water before draining it
    Chicken marinara pasta cooking in a black skillet as pasta water is poured over the penne and seared chicken strips to create a sauce.

6. Toss and Finish

  • Combine the drained pasta and the sauce in one pot, adding a splash of that reserved pasta water if needed.
    Stir in the parmesan, scatter fresh basil generously over the top, and serve it immediately, while it’s still steaming.
    Chicken Marinara Pasta Contains Penne pasta and sliced grilled chicken breast tossed in a rich tomato marinara sauce, garnished with fresh parsley, basil, and grated parmesan cheese in a black skillet.

Notes

Nutritional Information

  • Calories: approximately 420
  • Protein: 32g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fat: 12g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Sodium: 580mg
Keyword Chicken Marinara Pasta