Creamy Rotini Chicken Pasta (Print-Friendly Version)

Rotini and chicken in a creamy, herby garlic sauce, finished with Parmesan for a flavor-packed meal.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 285 grams uncooked rotini pasta

→ Protein

02 - 340 grams chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Aromatics

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 0.5 medium onion, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Sauce

06 - 2.5 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 240 millilitres heavy cream or half and half
08 - 50 grams grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
10 - 0.5 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
11 - 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
12 - 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 12 to 13 minutes.
02 - While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened and lightly browned.
03 - Add minced garlic, tomato paste, and chicken pieces to the skillet. Stir well and cook for 7 to 8 minutes on medium heat, until the chicken is nearly cooked through.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan, dried basil, sea salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Allow the sauce to gently simmer.
05 - Drain the rotini, reserving some pasta water. Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce, stirring well to coat. If needed, add a small amount of reserved pasta water to reach desired sauce consistency.
06 - Toss the pasta and chicken together until evenly coated in the sauce. Serve immediately while hot.

# Notes & Tips:

01 - Salt pasta water generously for enhanced flavor absorption.
02 - Cook pasta al dente to prevent overcooking during mixing with hot sauce.
03 - Adding reserved pasta water helps emulsify the sauce, ensuring it adheres to the rotini.
04 - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days, and reheat gently on the stovetop or in a microwave.

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