Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce

This tastes like a dish you could get at an Italian-American restaurant, but is super easy to make. Kids love it too! You can use nearly any kind of pasta. Pairs well with a vinaigrette salad.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 8  ounces penne pasta, cooked according to directions
• 3 -4  chicken breasts, optionally cut into strips
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup  breadcrumbs
• 1  cup chicken broth
• 2  cups heavy cream
• 1⁄4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1  tablespoon butter
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 3  roma tomatoes, chopped
• 6  ounces parmesan cheese, grated
•  salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in frying pan on medium heat.
2. Coat chicken in breadcrumbs, optionally with a milk or egg wash first.
3. Cook chicken approximately 4-5 minutes on each side, until done. Slice a bit of chicken to ensure doneness.
4. Remove chicken from pan, leaving behind any drippings and grease.
5. Deglaze pan with chicken broth.
6. Add heavy cream, basil,garlic, butter, tomatoes, and half the parmesan cheese.
7. Simmer, stirring often to prevent any burning and to incorporate chicken drippings.
8. Add remaining parmesan cheese as desired. Salt and pepper to taste.
9. When cream sauce has thickened, turn heat to low. A small amount of flour or corn starch can be used to thicken it faster if needed.
10. Serve chicken on top of pasta, covered in the cream sauce. Garnish with parsley and parmesan.