Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is a mouthwatering, one pan, creamy chicken recipe that is ready for dinner in 30 minutes or less!  Chicken thighs or breasts are seared and simmered in a creamy tomato basil and parmesan sauce making for an easy dinner the whole family will rave about!

Chicken thighs or breasts cooked in a creamy tomato basil sauce

Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken:

What’s not to be crazy about?  A sauce like this is crazy simple to make with ingredients you most likely already have at home.  I even use dried basil here to accommodate those of us that aren’t always able to find fresh basil.  This is a go to chicken recipe for us right along with our reader fave, Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs!  This is honestly a super budget friendly recipe (thighs are typically cheaper) and uses a lot of pantry/fridge staples.  The sauce is SO GOOD I could honestly drink it!  It’s a simple mixture of tomato sauce, cream, parmesan and seasonings but it’s so silky and delish! The best part is, this chicken comes together in 30 minutes with hardly any prep and you can serve it with whatever you have on hand!

Creamy tomato basil chicken

I really love this chicken in particular because you can easily customize and change up simple things to make it your way!

Tomato Basil Chicken Recipe Notes:

  • This makes a really good amount of sauce!  Serve it with rice, your favorite pasta, mashed potatoes or just a side of green veggies to keep it lighter.
  • I use heavy cream to make a nice rich sauce.  If you want to keep it little lighter, feel free to use half and half instead.
  • Use chicken breasts or thighs!  I use skin on thighs because I think they have a great flavor.  You can use chicken breasts instead if you want.  Keep in mind that they will generally cook through faster than thighs.  Keep an eye on them so that they don’t dry out.
  • If you want A LOT of sauce, you can double the sauce ingredients, and even add a couple of extra chicken thighs too.
  • This sauce is really best with freshly grated parmesan if possible.  If all you have is bagged/shaker parmesan you can use it just keep in mind that the sauce won’t be quite as smooth.

creamy tomato basil chicken on plate

 

Enjoy!

~Nichole

 

 

Be sure to check out our video for this recipe below and follow along on Facebook where we always share the tastiest recipes!

5 from 16 votes

Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken

Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is a mouthwatering, one pan, creamy chicken recipe that is ready for dinner in 30 minutes or less!  Chicken thighs or breasts are seared and simmered in a creamy tomato basil and parmesan sauce making for an easy dinner the whole family will rave about!
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Season the chicken breasts on both sides with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
  • Heat one Tablespoon of olive oil and one Tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add the chicken skin side down and cook for 5-6 minutes, without turning. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Remove the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
  • Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  • Stir in the tomato sauce, heavy cream, parmesan, and basil.  Bring to a simmer, return chicken to pan.  Cover and cook over medium low heat for 5-7 more minutes, until chicken is cooked through.

Video

Notes

NOTE:  The chicken is seared on both sides first, then returned to the pan to finish cooking through.  Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees before being consumed.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
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Hey! Nice to meet you! I'm Nichole!

Welcome to The Salty Marshmallow! I'm a mom, animal lover, photographer, & kitchen mess-maker. Here you will find the result of my decades-long passion for chasing the best flavors in the kitchen, all meant to be cooked by regular people with busy lives just like you and me.

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30 Comments

    1. Luann- I realize you asked this a year ago and prob don’t need an answer anymore, but just in case someone else is wondering the same thing— it’s a tsp of actual garlic and a 14.5 oz of tomato sauce (I watched the video that was attached to the recipe)

      Also thanks for the recipe, Nichole! I’ve made quite a few recipes from your blog over the years. I remember being fresh to the married life. My spouse and I were both figuring out how to navigate the kitchen, each of us coming into the relationship with limited understanding of the art of cooking. It’s been a journey and I finally consider myself a great cook, not just a good recipe follower. Your blog and recipes were one of the things that helped me get here! I appreciate you, kind stranger of the internet!

  1. Tried it tonight…probably the best (and simplest) recipe of its kind that I’ve found anywhere.I’m already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!