Description
This Tomato Basil Pasta with Balsamic Grilled Chicken is fresh, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights. Tender grilled chicken marinated in a sweet and tangy balsamic mix sits atop a garlicky pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan. It’s a quick dinner that feels like a restaurant-quality meal—right from your kitchen.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons pesto
1 tablespoon honey
Pinch of red pepper flakes
For the Pasta:
8 oz pasta (rotini or your choice)
1–2 tablespoons olive oil
2–3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 handful fresh basil, chopped or chiffonade
Salt and black pepper to taste
½ cup reserved pasta water
Optional: balsamic glaze for drizzling
Instructions
In a resealable bag, combine balsamic vinegar, pesto, honey, and red pepper flakes. Add chicken and marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (around 400°F). Oil the grates and grill chicken for 7–8 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 160°–165°F. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Boil a pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
In the same pot, heat olive oil over medium. Sauté garlic and cherry tomatoes with a pinch of salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until tomatoes soften (about 4–5 minutes).
Return pasta to the pot. Add Parmesan, basil, and reserved pasta water to form a light sauce. Stir well to coat.
Serve pasta topped with grilled chicken slices, extra basil, Parmesan, and an optional drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Notes
Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy.
Fresh basil and good Parmesan make a big difference here—don’t skip them!
Want to save time? Use store-bought balsamic glaze.
Gluten-free pasta works great as a substitute.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Main course
- Method: Grilling, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 495 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg