Spaghetti with Sautéed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes
This recipe was inspired by the abundance of tomatoes and basil in my garden. These grape tomatoes are so sweet and addicting. Toss them with some low carb pasta and diced chicken and you have a delicious, healthy meal in less than 20 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight!
This recipe was inspired by the abundance of tomatoes and basil in my garden. These grape tomatoes are so sweet and addicting. Toss them with some low carb pasta and diced chicken and you have a delicious, healthy meal in less than 20 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight!
- cooking spray
- 2 skinless chicken breast halves diced in 1 inch cubes
- 1/2 tsp each of dried oregano and dries basil
- kosher salt and fresh pepper
- 8 oz spaghetti (high fiber or low carb) i used ronzoni smart taste
- 2 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 6 cloves garlic smashed and coarsely chopped
- 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- Carbohydrate 46.2282687499958 g
- Cholesterol 34.22 mg
- Fat 3.89989999563698 g
- Fiber 2.78350005797788 g
- Protein 21.873206249995 g
- Saturated Fat 0.671633874397629 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (196g)
- Sodium 46.2504999999064 mg
- Sugar 43.4447686920179 g
- Trans Fat 0.582035749881683 g
- Calories 312 calories
Step-by-step
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
- Season chicken generously with salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Heat a large skillet on high heat. When hot, spray with oil and add chicken. Cook about 3-4 minutes, until no longer pink. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, add olive oil to skillet on high heat. Add garlic and saut? until golden brown (do not burn). Add tomatoes, salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium-low. Saut? about 4-5 minutes. When pasta is drained, add pasta to tomatoes and toss well. If pasta seems too dry, add some of the reserved pasta water. Add fresh basil and chicken and toss well. Serve and top with good grated cheese.
The ingredient list fails to mention the acoustic environment of the kitchen, specifically the sharp sizzle that occurs when moisture-laden grape tomatoes hit a pan heated with four teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil. Cooking requires attention to the auditory cues of the stove just as much as the visual ones, transforming simple aromatics into deeply savory components. Crushing six cloves of garlic breaks open the cell walls, releasing allicin compounds that react with the hot oil to create a complex aromatic base that permeates the entire dish. When garlic meets high heat, Maillard reactions and caramelization occur simultaneously, turning the sharp sulfurous notes into a rich, nutty sweetness that balances the natural acidity of the tomatoes. Setting the chicken aside after three to four minutes prevents the meat from tightening into rubbery cubes, preserving juiciness before it re-enters the pan.
Complementary Side Dishes
Pairing a light, starch-heavy pasta dish with contrasting textures and temperatures creates a balanced table. A bitter green salad dressed simply with lemon juice and high-grade olive oil cuts through the richness of the olive oil and garlic sauce without competing for palate space. Crisp, water-rich vegetables like sliced cucumbers or raw fennel bulbs offer a clean crunch that resets the mouth between bites of tender spaghetti and soft, blistered fruit. Crusty sourdough bread toasted with a rub of raw garlic provides a structural contrast to the slurpable strands of pasta.The Science of the Sauté
High-heat cooking drives this recipe, requiring careful temperature management to avoid scorching the olive oil, which has a smoke point around 375°F to 400°F. Searing diced chicken breast quickly on high heat develops an exterior crust through protein browning while keeping the interior moist. Deglazing the skillet with reserved starchy pasta water releases the caramelized tomato sugars stuck to the bottom of the pan, emulsifying the oil and water into a cohesive sauce that coats every strand evenly.
