Tomato Basil Chicken

This Tomato Basil Chicken recipe is a fun spin on classic chicken and tomatoes. The sauce has fresh basil, which pairs perfectly with the tomatoes. I use a combination of canned and fresh to get plenty of depth as it cooks. I love that it pairs with anything you want, so you can create a completely different dinner every time.

I've made this a handful of times for dinner, and it's always incredibly delicious. The chicken is juicy and flavorful, and the sauce is magical. Red pepper flakes are a key ingredient because the hint of spice perfectly balances the rich cream and acidic tomatoes. It's so good!

If you like easy chicken recipes, you will love this lemon chicken recipe. If you want something with a bit of a bite, try this ginger chicken.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's inexpensive: This isn't an expensive dish to make. It looks and tastes gourmet but without the price tag! It's perfect to make if you want to host a dinner party or serve your family something extra delicious and impressive.
• It's versatile: I love how you can serve it however you like. It goes well with several different side dishes, so it's like a brand new experience every time you prepare it.
• It's balanced: The acidity of the tomatoes, the savory chicken, and the creaminess of the sauce all come together beautifully. It hits so many notes without any of the ingredients overpowering the others.
• It's a 30-minute meal: It takes about 35 minutes (so a little more than 30) to make this recipe. It's great when you're short on time but still want to enjoy a home-cooked dinner.

Ingredients

Below is everything I use to make this Italian basil chicken recipe. It's made of a variety of tomato products, chicken, basil, spices, and aromatics!

• Chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this as I feel like they work best in the tomato and basil sauce. Plus, it adds plenty of moisture so you don't end up with dry chicken! You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for an added layer of flavor.
• Tomatoes: For the sauce, I use fresh cherry tomatoes, canned crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste. The fresh tomatoes add sweetness, while canned tomatoes add plenty of texture. A little bit of tomato paste adds rich flavor for depth!
• Garlic and shallots: I like how the garlic enhances the tomatoes and basil in this recipe. I use shallots because they are a little milder and sweeter, so they don't overpower the other ingredients.
• Red pepper flakes: A pinch of heat elevates this dish tremendously! It's not enough to make it spicy, but it adds balance.
• Heavy cream: The cream helps to tone down the acidity of the tomatoes while providing richness and giving the sauce a luxurious texture. It's a must!
• Basil: Fresh basil and tomato are like soulmates. They bring out the best in each other! I don't recommend using dried basil as it won't give the recipe the same flavor and texture.
• Parmesan: This is an optional garnish, but I love it. It adds to the presentation and gives each bite a sharp, nuttiness that just works! I use shaved parmesan cheese, but grated or shredded is fine, too.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Make it Creamy: Love pink sauce? Stir in some ricotta cheese and if needed, more heavy cream to make a creamy red sauce.
• Tuscan Flavors: Add sundried tomatoes, spinach, and a squeeze of lemon to make it a Tuscan-style dish.
• Add mushrooms: Stir in sliced mushrooms for earthiness and texture.

How to Make Tomato Basil Chicken 

Here are the instructions needed to make this recipe for chicken with tomatoes and basil. I recommend grabbing your ingredients and ensuring everything is measured and ready to go.

Step 1: Sear the chicken. Season both sides of each chicken generously with garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Heat a deep skillet over medium-high heat sear each side of the chicken for 4 minutes, and set it aside.

Step 2: Saute the shallots and garlic. Add the shallots, garlic, and tomato paste to the pan. Cook those ingredients for about 1 minute or so.

Step 3: Cook the tomatoes. Next, add the crushed tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Let it all cook for another 5 minutes or until the cherry tomatoes are tender.

Step 4: Mash them. Use a potato masher to mash the tomatoes into a chunky tomato sauce consistency.

Step 5: Add the cream. Stir in the heavy cream until it's well combined, and then reduce the heat to medium.

Step 6: Finish cooking and serve. Add the chicken breasts to the sauce and cook them for about 10 minutes. Garnish with basil and parmesan and enjoy!

If you love chicken and tomato recipes, you may also enjoy this creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta.

A new totally delicious recipe that has just graced the pages of our little blog here is this Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken. I cannot convey the level of awesomeness that this dish reaches. All I can say is check it out!

Storage Directions

• Storing: Store leftovers of your chicken with tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
• Reheating: You may reheat the chicken on a microwave-safe plate, covered with a paper towel, for 2-3 minutes or until it's warmed through. You can also return it to a skillet and reheat over low heat until heated through. You can add a bit of water if needed to restore the consistency.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve this tomato and basil chicken over your favorite pasta or even over slow cooker spaghetti squash.
• It's also great with the flavor of this lemon spinach rice.
• Make zucchini fries in the air fryer or Mediterranean roasted vegetables as a side dish. Either of them would complement the tomato basil sauce.
• Keep it fresh and serve this Greek lentil salad with feta or a simple garden salad on the side.

Tomato Basil Chicken

Karin and Ken

Tomato Basil Chicken is full of freshness with a rich tomato sauce. Serve it over pasta, a salad, or however you like. It's one of the easiest dinners ever!

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 414 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 3-4 tablespoons olive oil divided
• 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 shallots minced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 29-ounce can crushed or strained tomatoes
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved
• ½-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• fresh basil chopped, for garnish
• parmesan shavings for garnish

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Instructions

 

• Season the chicken on both sides with salt, garlic powder, ground pepper and onion powder.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and sear chicken on both sides for about 3-4 minutes each; do not overcrowd the pan (if needed work in batches).
• Remove from heat and set aside on a plate. Wipe out pan if needed.
• Make tomato sauce by adding 2 tablespoon oil and cook tomato paste, shallots and garlic for 1 minute.
• Add crushed tomatoes, cherry/grape tomatoes, and red pepper flakes (for a spicer version add 1tsp).
• Cook until the tomatoes soften and use a potato masher to crush them.
• Add heavy whipping cream and stir until blended.
• Add the chicken back to the skillet and bring to a simmer until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F (about 15 minutes).
• Garnish with chopped basil and parmesan shavings.
• Serve chicken with a scoop of tomato sauce over a bowl or spaghetti or on its own.

Notes

• Store this chicken and tomato recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Prepare this chicken recipe with tomatoes in the oven or slow cooker instead of a skillet if you want.
• Check your chicken with a thermometer to ensure it's fully cooked. It should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 29gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 2222mgPotassium: 1208mgFiber: 5gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1170IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Tomato Basil Chicken

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This post was originally published in July 2021. It's been updated with new content and images.