1-How to Prepare the Perfect Cherry Tomato Basil Chicken Rigatoni: Getting this Cherry Tomato Basil Chicken Rigatoni just right is fun and straightforward. Start by gathering everything you need, like rinsing the cherry tomatoes and chopping the basil. Then, cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.

2-Next: bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the 1 pound of rigatoni pasta until it’s al dente, which takes about 10-12 minutes. Don’t forget to reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining it, as this helps with the sauce later.

3-Season and Cook the Chicken: Butter the chicken breasts by slicing them horizontally and cutting into two equal pieces. Season with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until it’s golden and cooked through. Remove it from the pan and keep it warm under foil.

4-In the same skillet, deglaze with ¼ cup white wine to scrape up the tasty bits. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, the diced ½ yellow onion, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Sauté this mix for about 10 minutes until the tomatoes break down and release their juices.

5-Build the Sauce and Combine: Press the tomatoes gently to release more juices, then stir in ¼ cup tomato paste, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Cook for 1 minute until the paste darkens and smells amazing. Pour in the remaining ¾ cup white wine or chicken broth and simmer for 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors.

6-Stir in ½ cup heavy cream and half of the ½ cup julienned basil leaves, then bring everything to a simmer. Fold in the cooked rigatoni, using the reserved pasta water as needed to thin the sauce. Add ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

7-Slice the cooked chicken and serve it over the pasta. Garnish with extra Parmesan, additional red pepper flakes, and the remaining basil. This method ensures a creamy, flavorful dish that’s ready in 40 minutes total.