At the heart of this recipe is a luscious creamy sauce, seasoned with garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, and more, enveloping the cooked pasta in flavor. But the star is the breaded chicken: tenderized, pan-fried until golden, topped with mozzarella, and broiled for a gooey, irresistible finish.
Creamy Pasta With Mozzarella Breaded Chicken
Creamy pasta adorned with tender, breaded chicken and melted mozzarella.
Ingredients
- 8 oz 225g pasta of your choice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until it’s al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set aside.
- In a large pan, melt the butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste and fry briefly, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in the heavy cream and stir until well combined. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes until it thickens slightly. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cream mixture and set aside.
- Combine the cooked pasta and reserved pasta water with the remaining cream mixture in the pan. Mix well until the pasta is evenly coated. Keep warm while preparing the chicken.
- Tenderize the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Dip each chicken breast into the beaten egg, then coat with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a bit of olive oil. Fry the breaded chicken breasts for about 5-6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Pour the reserved cream mixture over the fried chicken cutlets in the skillet. Top each chicken breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese.
- Preheat the broiler in your oven. Place the skillet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the chicken is golden brown on top.
- Serve the creamy pasta topped with the mozzarella breaded chicken immediately. Enjoy your delicious meal!
Notes
- Chicken Preparation: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before breading. This ensures even cooking and prevents them from drying out.
- Breading Technique: For a crispier coating, double dip the chicken in the beaten egg and breadcrumbs. After the first coating, dip it back into the egg mixture and breadcrumbs for a second layer.
- Creamy Pasta: Reserve some of the pasta water before draining. This starchy water helps to thicken the sauce and bind it to the pasta, creating a creamier texture.
- Melting Cheese: When broiling the chicken with mozzarella cheese, keep a close eye on it to prevent burning. You want the cheese to melt and become golden brown and bubbly, not charred.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @chefsndiaries on Instagram.
