This is the absolute easiest way to cook flavorful chicken—it simply poaches right in the marinara sauce. This Chicken in Tomato Sauce is perfect with pasta or with a side of Italian bread and is a great easy family meal.
Chicken in Tomato Sauce
Simmering chicken in marinara or tomato sauce is my favorite way to cook it because there are less worries about whether it’s done and it stays super tender. This was the first way I learned how to cook chicken when I was first living on my own and all these years later, it remains a favorite.
This is an easy way to make chicken for kids since you pop it into the pan and it’s hands-off from there. And it’s super tender, so it’s easy for babies and toddlers to chew.
Plus, it’s just really good.
We usually have this chicken recipe with pasta, as shown here, but you could also serve it with bread, another grain, or a Caesar Salad.
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Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this recipe so you know what to have on hand to get cooking.
- Marinara sauce: I prefer to use marinara sauce here due to its wonderful flavor. You can use store-bought or you can use homemade marinara sauce if you prefer. If you want a more affordable option, tomato sauce can work, too.
- Skinless chicken breast (or tenders): For ease, I use skinless chicken breast or tenders. Feel free to use another type as you like.
- Unsalted butter: This adds a little richness to the end of cooking. If you need to make this dairy-free, just leave it out.
- Parmesan cheese: We like to top this recipe with grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
- Pasta (optional): You can stir in cooked pasta at the end of cooking the chicken to turn this into a complete meal. See the Notes at the end of the recipe for more easy ideas on how to serve this chicken.
Here’s an overview of making this family dinner. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full recipe with the amounts and cooking times.
- Add the marinara sauce to a skillet. Bring to a simmer. Add the chicken pieces into the sauce. I cut them right into the pan with kitchen scissors, no need to dirty a cutting board.
- Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer to cook. Turn over the chicken halfway through.
- Meanwhile, prepare the pasta if using. Drain. Stir the butter, Parmesan cheese, and pasta (if using) into the chicken mixture.
- Serve warm with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Yes, it’s easy to simmer or poach chicken in sauce to cook it through. We love to do it in marinara sauce since it’s so flavorful.
If the chicken is diced into bite-size pieces, it takes about 10 minutes. It may take longer if the pieces of chicken are larger.
You can add butter, cream, ricotta cheese, mascarpone, or goat cheese to enhance the flavor and richness of tomato sauce.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Heat through to serve, sprinkling with a little water to add the right amount of moisture.
How to Cook Instant Pot Chicken Breast in Pasta Sauce
FAQ
Can you cook raw chicken in a sauce?
Is it safe to cook raw chicken with pasta?
Can you put raw meat in pasta sauce?
Can you simmer raw chicken?
How do you cook chicken pasta with tomato sauce?
This chicken pasta has a light creamy tomato sauce. It is quite flavorful and comforting minus all the heaviness of traditional creamy alfredo. Cook pasta in salted water with 1 Tbsp olive oil until aldente according to package instructions. Rinse, drain and set aside. Trim chicken and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Can you put raw chicken in tomato sauce?
You can put raw chicken in tomato sauce as long as the chicken is fully cooking with the sauce. If the chicken was still raw (for example a marinade that was removed while the chicken was still raw) then I would discard the sauce. This recipe might look fancy, but it is one of the easiest recipes to put together:
How do you make a good pasta sauce?
Milk: a little bit of liquid to thin the soup and make the creamy sauce. Low-sodium chicken broth: or sub with water. This is extra liquid for the pasta to absorb as it cooks in the oven. Kosher salt and ground black pepper: to enhance the other flavors in the dish.
Can you eat chicken with pasta?
Chicken with pasta is a dish that the whole family can enjoy. You will not have any trouble getting the kids to eat when you serve up this meal. Pasta – I use rotini pasta for this dish, but any bite-size pasta will work like rigatoni, penne, fusilli, or farfalle. You can also use gluten free pasta too if you prefer.