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Creamy Tomato Chicken

Creamy tomato chicken with golden seared breasts and a silky rose-colored tomato cream sauce. Garlic and basil flavor a deeply pink sauce that turns thick and glossy, with Parmesan and cream for a luscious finish.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 650

Ingredients
  

Chicken and seasoning
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • garlic powder to taste
  • Italian seasoning to taste
Sauce base and aromatics
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 0.25 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • Fresh basil for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 wide skillet

Method
 

Season and sear the chicken
  1. Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to taste. Heat the olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat, then sear until deep golden with clear release from the pan, 5-6 minutes per side.
  2. Check doneness by measuring the thickest part of the chicken: internal temperature must reach 165°F. Remove chicken to a plate.
Build the tomato base
  1. Reduce heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the same skillet, cooking until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the white wine (or chicken broth) to deglaze, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
  2. Stir in crushed tomatoes and the 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, then bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
Make the creamy rose-colored sauce
  1. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until the sauce thickens and turns rose-colored, about 4-5 minutes.
  2. Turn off the heat and swirl in the butter until fully melted and glossy.
Finish and serve
  1. Return chicken breasts to the skillet and spoon the tomato cream sauce over the top of each piece. Garnish with fresh basil and serve over pasta or gnocchi.

Notes

Pro tip: For the best golden crust, don’t crowd the pan and let the chicken sit undisturbed for the first half of searing; it should release easily when ready. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the cream sauce can separate after thawing. For a lower-fat swap, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream (sauce may be slightly thinner).