Spicy Chicken Marinara With Summer Squash

⏱ 80 mins 🍽 4 serving(s) 🏷 Chicken Breast

This zesty chicken marinara offers a delightful twist on a familiar favourite. Tender pieces of chicken breast are cooked with onion before being simmered in a rich sauce of crushed tomatoes, basil, and garlic. Yellow squash is added near the end for a fresh note. The finished sauce is tossed with your choice of pasta and can be topped with a sprinkle of cheese for serving. It is a comforting and flavourful meal that serves four.

Spicy Chicken Marinara With Summer Squash

Ingredients

  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 6 ounces water
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 large yellow onion, sliced (optional)
  • 1/2 cup yellow squash, halved & thinly sliced
  • parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 16 ounces pasta (spaghetti, angel hair, penne, etc)
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (optional) or 1/4 cup asiago cheese (optional)

Method

  1. Cook the garlic in one tablespoon of olive oil until it turns a light brown colour, then remove it from the pan.
  2. Slice the chicken breast into bite sized pieces. In the same skillet, cook the chicken and optional onion in the remaining oil until the chicken is fully white, adding salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Stir in the tomato paste and the cooked garlic, mixing everything thoroughly.
  4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, add the dried basil, optional red pepper flakes, and water. Mix well. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for an hour, stirring now and then. Season with salt and pepper as you like.
  5. While the sauce simmers, prepare a large pot of water for the pasta, bringing it to a boil.
  6. About fifteen minutes before the sauce finishes cooking, add the sliced yellow squash to the pan. At this point, begin cooking the pasta according to the package directions.
  7. Once the pasta is cooked, combine it with the finished sauce in a large bowl, tossing to coat the pasta evenly.
  8. If desired, finish the dish by sprinkling parmesan or asiago cheese over the top before serving.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium518300 mg

Recipe details

CategoryChicken Breast
AuthorDoxie lover in the