Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts

These Skillet Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts are made with juicy chicken breasts simmered in a rich, creamy tomato sauce. It’s a simple, one-pan recipe that comes together in 25 minutes, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights! 

Looking for more skillet chicken breast recipes? Try this Creamy Tuscan Chicken, this Easy Chicken Orzo Recipe, or this Chicken Caprese Skillet!

These Creamy Skillet Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts are the quick version of my Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken recipe but still just as delicious!

This one pot meal cooks tender chicken breasts in a skillet, then simmers them in a homemade creamy tomato basil sauce that tastes just as good as your favorite Italian restaurant. 

Serve it over a bed of pasta or your favorite sides and some crusty bread to soak up all that delicious sauce!

Why you’ll love this Tomato Basil Chicken Skillet:

• Fresh and creamy: The freshness of the basil paired with the indulgent creamy tomato sauce and juicy chicken is a match made in heaven. 
• Simple ingredients: Nothing fancy here. This recipe uses basic ingredients you probably already have on hand for a simple dish loaded with fresh flavor. 
• Quick: You can have dinner on the table in 25 minutes, so it’s perfect for any night of the week. 

Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts Ingredients:

• Oil: I use canola oil to brown the chicken before combining it with the sauce, but you can use any oil with a neutral flavor and high smoke point.
• Chicken Breasts: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts. You are welcome to use chicken thighs if preferred; just keep in mind that the cooking time may change slightly.
• Minced Garlic: I like to use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor. You’ll need 2-3 whole cloves. In a pinch, you can also use jarred garlic or a small amount of garlic powder.
• Seasonings: we’re using a simple blend of salt, dried basil, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to season the sauce. Add more or less red pepper flakes to taste, depending on your spice preferences!
• Canned Tomatoes: use canned diced tomatoes with Italian herbs to add even more flavor. If you only have plain canned tomatoes, add some additional Italian seasoning.
• Tomato Pasta Sauce: marinara sauce or any other seasoned tomato sauce will work.
• Heavy Cream and Cornstarch: make up a cornstarch slurry to help thicken the sauce. I like to use heavy cream for a richer flavor, but whole milk or half-and-half will work as well.
• Fresh Basil: if you can’t find fresh basil, a tablespoon of basil pesto works great, too! 
• Parmesan Cheese: use freshly grated parmesan cheese to garnish the chicken.

How to Make This ​Tomato Basil Chicken Skillet:

This Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken recipe is always a hit every time I make it! Don’t forget to check the recipe card for the full list of recipe instructions.

• Halve the chicken breasts lengthwise so you end up with two thin pieces of chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add garlic, salt, basil, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for a minute, then pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.

• Stir heavy cream and cornstarch mixture into the sauce. 
• Add the browned chicken back to the pan and cover until cooked.

Variations and Substitutions:

• Add veggies. If you want to mix veggies into the sauce, you can cook them with a little bit of oil in the skillet before adding the sauce ingredients. Try zucchini, onion, broccoli, mushrooms, you name it. If you want to add spinach, I recommend adding it after the sauce is cooked. It will cook down quickly.
• Make it cheesy. These Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts are great topped off with shredded parmesan or mozzarella cheese. To melt the cheese on top, use an oven-safe skillet, sprinkle the cheese over the finished chicken and sauce, and broil for a couple minutes until it’s melty and gooey.

How to store leftovers:

Leftover Tomato Basil Chicken will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.

To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then warm on the stove until heated through.

Serving Suggestions:

To serve these Skillet Tomato Basil Chicken Breasts, I like to pair them with some Roasted Vegetables or some buttered noodles to balance out the rich sauce.

If you’re in the mood for something more filling, toss the chicken over some Brown Rice or Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes to soak up all that creamy goodness.

For something indulgent, I love serving the chicken breasts over a bed of Creamy Cavatappi Pasta or Creamy Tomato Rigatoni Pasta!

And, of course, Garlic Bread on the side is always a great idea for dipping into the sauce.

More one pan dinners you’ll love:

• Skillet Lasagna Recipe — this one is always a hit!
• Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet — pure comfort in one pan.
• Perogies and Sausage Skillet — perogies are always a hit here!
• Italian Chicken Tortellini Skillet — comes together so quickly!