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Penne with sun-dried tomato cream sauce in 30 minutes.
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5 from 2 votes

penne with sun-dried tomato cream sauce

Penne with sun-dried tomato cream sauce is a rich and delicious pasta dish that's fast enough for a weeknight dinner but perfect for a special dinner for two.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Author: romain | glebekitchen

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken breasts or 6 chicken thighs - boneless and skinless
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock or pasta cooking water
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2/3 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil sliced thinly
  • 1 cup parmegiana reggiano grated
  • salt to taste start at about 1/2 tsp and adjust from there. You'll be surprised how much it takes.
  • 1/2-1 tsp red chili flakes
  • 12 oz penne
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • a few basil leaves shredded

Instructions

  • Heat a large pot of water and salt it well. Well salted means it tastes like the sea.
  • Cook the pasta per package instructions. Use a timer.
  • Drain the pasta and reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water.
  • Melt the butter in a pan large enough to hold all the cooked pasta with some room to spare.
  • Add the chicken and cook until it starts to brown. This will take about 5 minutes.
  • Mix in the garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Add the chicken stock or pasta water and salt. Cook until the chicken is almost done. This will take another three minutes or so. Some of the water will evaporate.
  • Add the sun-dried tomatoes and cream. Bring to a simmer.
  • Stir in the parmigiano reggiano, Taste and adjust for salt then add the pasta.
  • Simmer the pasta for a minute, stirring constantly to thoroughly coat the pasta with the sauce and distribute the tomatoes.
  • To serve, divide into four portions and garnish with black pepper, a bit more parmigiana reggiano and the shredded basil.

Notes

When picking the pan to make this don't just pick one that's large enough to hold the pasta. Pick one that gives you the maximum surface area. That will make mixing the pasta and the sauce much easier.