Effortless Comfort: One-Pot Creamy Chicken Tomato Pasta for Busy Weeknights

One-Pot Creamy Chicken Tomato Pasta

Introduction

Looking for a comforting, flavor-packed dinner that comes together with minimal cleanup? This One-Pot Creamy Chicken Tomato Pasta layers juicy chicken, tender pasta, and a rich tomato-cream sauce, all cooked together in one pan for ultimate convenience. It’s the perfect solution for busy weeknights, delivering crowd-pleasing results with less time spent at the sink.

Deliciously Simple One-Pot Creamy Chicken Tomato Pasta

What makes this recipe a household favorite is its blend of tangy tomatoes and velvety cream, combined with savory chicken and perfectly cooked pasta. By cooking everything in one pot, the flavors meld beautifully, and every bite is infused with the depth of the creamy tomato sauce. It’s easy, satisfying, and saves you time both in the kitchen and during cleanup.

Building the Creamy Tomato Sauce

Start by sautéing your chicken until golden, then build the flavor base with fresh garlic and onions. Once fragrant, add diced tomatoes, broth, and Italian herbs. As the pasta simmers directly in the sauce, it soaks up all those aromatic flavors, making every forkful rich and delicious. Stir in cream and Parmesan just before serving for that luscious, restaurant-quality finish.

The Easiest Assembly — All in One Pot

The magic of one-pot pasta dishes lies in their simplicity. No need to boil pasta separately or juggle multiple pans — just add the uncooked pasta right into the simmering sauce. By the time the noodles are al dente and the chicken is cooked through, the sauce will have thickened beautifully. A final sprinkle of cheese and fresh basil makes it irresistible.

Serving Suggestions for One-Pot Creamy Chicken Tomato Pasta

Serve this creamy chicken pasta hot, garnished with extra Parmesan and chopped fresh basil. Pair it with a crisp green salad or steamed veggies for a balanced meal. Garlic bread makes an excellent addition for anyone craving a little extra comfort, perfect for soaking up that rich sauce.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 generous servings. Each serving packs approximately 500–600 calories depending on the type of cream and cheese used, along with a hearty balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates.

One-Pot Creamy Chicken Tomato Pasta (Recap)

By cooking everything together in a single pot, this recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimum effort. The result? Creamy, comforting pasta in a tangy tomato sauce, filled with juicy pieces of chicken — sure to become a new family favorite.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, or thyme)
8 ounces penne or rotini pasta (uncooked)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup fresh spinach (optional)
Chopped fresh basil, for garnish

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section — perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

CookifyAI meal planning interface

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper; add to the pan and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add diced tomatoes (with their juices), chicken broth, and Italian herbs. Stir to combine, then add the uncooked pasta and cooked chicken back into the pot.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12–15 minutes.
  5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If using spinach, stir it in at this stage until just wilted.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Spoon into bowls and garnish with fresh basil and additional Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is a fantastic addition to any weekly meal plan. Save and schedule this recipe to plan your dinners, streamline your shopping, and consolidate ingredients for all your planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

  • Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across multiple recipes
  • Organizes shopping lists by grocery store sections
  • Prevents duplicate purchases and forgotten ingredients
  • Keeps weekly meal prep simple and organized

Pro tip: When planning out your week, schedule recipes together to see where ingredients overlap — for example, if you’re making another recipe that uses chicken or cream, CookifyAI will add up your needs and help avoid leftover waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Leave a Comment