This creamy Tomato Basil Chicken recipe is full of comforting flavor, made with juicy chicken pieces simmered in a tomato basil sauce that’s both hearty and fresh. It combines fresh ingredients like ripe tomatoes, garlic, shallots, basil and a swirl of heavy cream with tender chicken breasts for one simple skillet meal.
If you're looking for an easy dinner recipe for busy weeknights or a cozy dish for the weekend, this chicken delivers with layers of flavor, from the browned bits in the pan to the fresh basil stirred in at the end.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Basil Tomato Chicken
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Tomato Basil Chicken
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store our Basil Tomato Chicken
- What to Serve with Tomato Basil Chicken
- Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Basil Tomato Chicken
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Tomato Basil Chicken
Who doesn’t love easy dinner recipes? Here are some of our favorite cozy weeknight meals: Marry Me Chicken Pasta, Stove Top Chili, Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes, Pork and Beef Chili, Turkey and Vegetable Soup, Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Pumpkin Soup or Roasted Butternut Squash Soup.
Why You Will Love This Basil Tomato Chicken
- One-Skillet Simplicity: Fewer dishes and faster cleanup with everything cooked in one large skillet.
- Bold Flavor with Minimal Effort: Built from pantry staples like tomato paste, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Flexible for What You Have: Works with canned or fresh tomatoes, any cut of chicken, and multiple side options.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: The tomato basil sauce tastes even better the next day.
- Family-Friendly: A great way to bring everyone to the table with a satisfying chicken dinner.
Ingredients
With just a quick trip to the grocery store, you will be ready to make this simple recipe.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless chicken stays juicy when simmered in sauce.
- Seasonings: Ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and salt are used to add additional flavor to the chicken.
- Olive Oil: Used for searing the chicken and developing those flavorful browned bits.
- Tomato Paste: Adds depth and helps thicken the sauce.
- Shallots: Adds subtle onion flavor to complement the tomato. A yellow onion can be used instead for a stronger flavor.
- Minced Garlic: Brings the base of the tomato basil sauce to life.
- Canned Crushed Tomatoes: A simple way to build up the sauce. Broth and fresh juicy tomatoes cooked down for a longer time work well.
- Fresh Tomatoes: Many tomato varieties work well but we use grape for this recipe.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Optional, but great for adding a gentle heat.
- Heavy Cream: Adds richness and turns this into a truly creamy tomato basil chicken recipe.
- Fresh Basil: Stirred in just before serving as a garnish and to add a fresh flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: Used as a garnish, can be omitted if necessary.
For this easy chicken recipe, you'll want to have on hand a large skillet, spatula, measuring cups and spoons and a meat thermometer (we love this one from ThermoWorks).
Substitutions and Variations
Love this recipe but want to make it your own? Here are some helpful ideas for you to change this basil tomato chicken.
- Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs work well for this recipe, adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Add Vegetables: Spinach, zucchini, mushrooms or chopped bell peppers work well stirred in during the simmer.
- Lighten It Up: Replace heavy cream with whole milk. For a dairy-free option use a broth or white wine.
- Keep It Light: Serve over brown rice, zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice instead of a traditional pasta.
- Tomato Change Up: Mix it up or use Roma, heirloom varieties or cherry tomatoes.
- Use Canned Tomatoes: When tomatoes aren’t in season you can use extra canned tomatoes.
How to Make Tomato Basil Chicken
This chicken dish comes together quickly with just one pan and simple ingredients.
If needed, pound the chicken breasts down to ½-inch thickness. Season both sides of the chicken with salt, garlic powder, ground black pepper and onion powder.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and sear chicken on both sides for about 3-4 minutes each; do not overcrowd the pan (if needed work in batches and add more oil).
Remove from heat and set aside on a plate.
Make tomato sauce by adding 2 tablespoon oil and cook tomato paste, shallots and garlic for 1 minute while scraping down brown bits.
Add crushed tomatoes, grape tomatoes and red pepper flakes.
Cook until the tomatoes soften and use a potato masher to crush them.
Add heavy whipping cream and stir until blended.
Place the chicken back to the skillet and bring to a simmer until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F (about 15 minutes).
Garnish with chopped basil and parmesan shavings.
Serve chicken with a scoop of tomato sauce over a bowl or spaghetti or on its own.
Hint: For quicker, more even cooking, lightly pound thicker parts of the chicken breast before seasoning.
More Recipes You Will Love
How to Store our Basil Tomato Chicken
Here are some of the best ways to store this basil tomato chicken.
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooled chicken and sauce for up to 2 months in a freezer save container. I like to use freezer bags and remove all the air, then store in a freezer container for added freshness.
- Reheating: Thaw in the fridge overnight then warm gently on the stovetop over low heat or microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed throughout.
What to Serve with Tomato Basil Chicken
This chicken dish is perfect to eat on its own, served over pasta, rice or zucchini noodles. Here are some other ideas to add to it and round out your meal.
- Side Dishes: Crusty bread, garlic bread, spinach salad, maple Brussels sprouts, fresh dinner rolls, cucumber and tomato salad, rosemary focaccia, roasted asparagus.
- Simple Appetizers: Stuffed mushroom caps, mozzarella sticks, bruschetta, spinach and artichoke dip, caprese skewers.
- More Easy Dinners: Marry Me chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, stove top chili, meatballs and mashed potatoes, pork and beef chili, slow cooker Velveeta mac and cheese.
Top Tips
Here are some of our best tips to help you make the best basil tomato chicken.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Sear chicken in a single layer to get that golden crust; working in batches adds a few more minutes but is worth it!
- Deglaze: Lift the browned bits for added flavor in your sauce.
- Toast the Tomato Paste: Cooking the tomato paste briefly with the shallots and garlic deepens the flavor and adds a subtle sweetness to the sauce.
- Use a Potato Masher: Crushing the grape tomatoes right in the pan creates a rustic texture and helps them break down into the sauce.
- Finish with Basil: Always use fresh basil for best results, it’s worth the extra step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Basil Tomato Chicken
Do you have questions about making our basil tomato chicken?
Yes. Canned tomatoes are convenient and work well. Let them simmer long enough to thicken and develop flavor.
You can — just know the sauce won’t be as rich. Use milk or a dairy-free option if you still want a bit of creaminess.
Use a meat thermometer and remove chicken once it hits 165°F internally. Don’t overcook.
Yes. Sear the chicken first, then transfer everything to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 3–4 hours and stir in basil and cream at the end.
After starting it on the stovetop, transfer to a convection oven at 375°F for about 20 minutes to finish.
More Recipes You Will Love
Check out some more of our recipes you will want to try!
Ready to get cooking? Save time by having a grocery list automatically generate for you by clicking the "Add to Shopping List" below.
Tomato Basil Chicken
Equipment
- Large Skillet with Deep Sides (12” diameter)
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 3-4 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 shallots minced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 29- ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup cherry/grape tomatoes halved
- ½-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- fresh basil chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- If your breasts are very thick, pound them down for more even cooking.
- Season both sides of the chicken with salt, garlic powder, ground black pepper and onion powder.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and sear chicken on both sides for about 3-4 minutes each; do not overcrowd the pan (if needed work in batches and add more oil).
- Remove from heat and set aside on a plate.
- Make tomato sauce by adding 2 tablespoon oil and cook tomato paste, shallots and garlic for 1 minute while scraping down brown bits.
- Add crushed tomatoes, grape tomatoes and red pepper flakes.
- Cook until the tomatoes soften and use a potato masher to crush them.
- Add heavy whipping cream and stir until blended.
- Place the chicken back to the skillet and bring to a simmer until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F (about 15 minutes).
- Garnish with chopped basil and parmesan shavings.
- Serve chicken with a scoop of tomato sauce over a bowl or spaghetti or on its own.
Notes
- For quicker, more even cooking, lightly pound thicker parts of the chicken breast before seasoning.
- Sear chicken in a single layer to get that golden crust; working in batches adds a few more minutes but is worth it!
- Deglaze the pan and lift the browned bits for added flavor in your sauce.
- Cooking the tomato paste briefly with the shallots and garlic deepens the flavor and adds a subtle sweetness to the sauce.
- Crushing the grape tomatoes right in the pan creates a rustic texture and helps them break down into the sauce.
- Always use fresh basil for best results, it’s worth the extra step.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Karina says
This was just what we needed for a comfort food night. The flavors from all these lovely ingredients transported us back to Italy.
Eva Filer says
That is wonderful to hear, I feel the same way! Happy cooking.
Madhu says
This tomato basil chicken looks so comforting! Does the cream make the sauce rich without being too heavy?
Eva Filer says
It is so good. I bet you will love it. And yes, it is very creamy in feeling but not heavy like a traditional creamy-based soup.
Cara Leonard says
All my favorite flavors in one dish!
Eva Filer says
Yay, that is awesome to hear. You will love this.
Abi says
Chicken dinner's like this are just perfect for my family! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe!
Eva Filer says
The pleasure is ours. So happy you enjoyed the recipe.
Leanne says
So delicious. The Chicken was tender and moist. Thanks for sharing.
Eva Filer says
You are so welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!
Joanne says
I will definitely be making this recipe. Looks delicious.
Eva Filer says
So happy you think so. We do too! Enjoy.
Cara Leonard says
This looks delicious!! Perfect dinner recipe!
Eva Filer says
It is a nice and quick one too! Enjoy it.
Eva Filer says
Our family loves this recipe, the sauce is packs so much flavor. Sometimes make just that without the chicken to add to other dishes!