Ingredients

• 8 oz dried pasta of choice, half standard box
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup onion, finely chopped
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• ½ teaspoon EACH Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• basil leaves, for garnish

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta
   Bring a large pot of salted water to medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
2. Cook the onion
   While the pasta cooks, warm the olive oil in a large heavy-duty pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened.
3. Add garlic and chicken
   Stir in the garlic and butter and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the chicken pieces along with the seasoning mixture. Sauté for 3–5 minutes until the chicken is browned and fully cooked.
4. Prepare the sauce
   Pour in the heavy cream, reserved pasta water, parmesan cheese, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 3–4 minutes. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
5. Combine and serve
   Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss until everything is evenly coated in the sauce. Garnish with fresh chopped basil if desired. Serve immediately.