Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
The Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta is one of my favorite dishes! Loaded with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls and fresh basil – then topped with lightly seasoned grilled chicken.
What You Will ❤️ About Tomato Basil Pasta
- Light! This is a nice light dish with a savory and slightly sweet sauce that has a taste that bursts with tomatoes in every bite!
- Flavorful! Fresh mozzarella adds a salty creaminess, the tomatoes add that tanginess and the pasta is that comforting carb we all love!
- Quick & Easy! Make your chicken and pasta – then this dish finishes up in less than 10 minutes.
Ingredients for Tomato Basil Pasta with Chicken
This copycat Cheesecake Factory recipe has simple, fresh ingredients and makes a delicious meal any day of the week!
- Penne Pasta – You want to use any kind of pasta that can hang on to that chunky sauce and Penne is a great choice.
- Chicken Breast – You’ll top the pasta with “grilled” chicken breast
- Salt, Black Pepper, Olive Oil, Garlic – Your standard Italian dish ingredients!
- Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes, Diced tomatoes & Tomato Sauce
- White Sugar – there’s a touch of sweetness in the sauce and this hits the spot
- Fresh Mozzarella – the restaurant uses the mozzarella pearls but you could also use the ball or slices and tear them into smaller pieces
- Fresh Basil Leaves – I have an Aerogarden and am growing fresh basil in my kitchen year-round! Using FRESH basil adds so much FLAVOR!!!!
- Basil Pesto – there’s a slight drizzle of pesto on top of the chicken – you can use a jarred or make your own pesto
Recipe Variations
- Grilled Shrimp – swapping out the protein for grilled shrimp would be very yum!
- More Veggies – next time – I’m adding onions and mushrooms!!! Steamed broccoli would be great to stir in as well.
- Pasta – swap out the Penne – good choices would be spaghetti or rigatoni
- Creamy – Add a touch of cream to the sauce and swap out the Mozzarella pearls for dollops of creamy ricotta cheese.
How to Make Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe
I love the combination of fresh tomatoes with canned! This delicious pasta dish is ready in less than 30 minutes!
- Heat a large pot of salted water over high heat. Add the dry penne pasta and boil according to the package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, you’ll want to cook your chicken breast. Season boneless skinless chicken breasts on both sides with salt & pepper and place in air fryer basket.
- Recommended method: Air Fryer – Air fry at 360º for 10-14 min depending on size and thickness of chicken breast.
- Secondary method: Skillet – over medium high heat, add olive oil to skillet. Add chicken and cook for 4-5 min on each side
- Using an instant read thermometer, check chicken breast at the thickest portion to be sure it is 160º. Remove chicken breasts and let rest until ready to serve.
- Place a large skillet over medium high heat, add olive oil. Once oil is hot, add minced garlic and cherry tomatoes. Stir for 1-2 minutes until tomatoes start to blister and pop open a little.. Turn heat down to medium heat and add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and sugar. Stir together and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Drain the cooked pasta and place back in pasta pot. Add tomato mixture and fresh basil and stir. Right before serving add in mozzarella pearls and stir.
- Slice chicken into thin angular slices and bite-sized pieces.
- Split pasta mixture between four bowls. Top each bowl with half of a chicken breast and drizzle with pesto and serve. You can also add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
This post contains affiliate links which I make a little money on purchases. Thanks in advance! I am an Amazon associate as well as a member of other affiliate programs.
Tips, Tricks & FAQs
Is this recipe gluten free?
If you use gluten-free pasta – it sure is!
Is Tomato Basil Pasta vegan?
The restaurant copycat is not vegan. But you could leave out the chicken and swap the mozzarella for a plant-based cheese to make it vegan.
How do you store and reheat leftover tomato basil pasta?
Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Get Heather’s NEW cookbook – Air Fryer Cooking for One today!
What to serve with Tomato Basil Pasta
Salads are a natural side dish for this tasty dish – here are a couple salads and – some garlic bread for good measure!
More Copycat Cheesecake Factory Recipes
Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta
The Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta is one of my favorite dishes! Loaded with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls and fresh basil – then topped with lightly seasoned grilled chicken.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz penne pasta uncooked
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts 6 oz each
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 7 oz canned diced tomatoes 1/2 can
- 8 oz tomato sauce small can
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- 10 fresh basil leaves chopped into small pieces
- 2 tbsp basil pesto
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of salted water over high heat. Add the dry penne pasta and boil according to the package instructions.16 oz penne pasta
- While the pasta is cooking, you’ll want to cook your chicken breast. Season boneless skinless chicken breasts on both sides with salt & pepper and place in air fryer basket.Recommended method: Air Fryer – Air fry at 360º for 10-14 min depending on size and thickness of chicken breast. Secondary method: Skillet – over medium high heat, add olive oil to skillet. Add chicken and cook for 4-5 min on each side2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Using an instant read thermometer, check chicken breast at the thickest portion to be sure it is 160º. Remove chicken breasts and let rest until ready to serve.
- Place a large skillet over medium high heat, add olive oil. Once oil is hot, add minced garlic and cherry tomatoes. Stir for 1-2 minutes until tomatoes start to blister and pop open a little.. Turn heat down to medium heat and add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and sugar. Stir together and simmer for 2-3 minutes.3 tbsp olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 7 oz canned diced tomatoes, 8 oz tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp sugar
- Drain the cooked pasta and place back in pasta pot. Add tomato mixture and fresh basil and stir. Right before serving add in mozzarella pearls and stir.4 oz fresh mozzarella pearls, 10 fresh basil leaves
- Slice chicken into thin angular slices and bite-sized pieces.
- Split pasta mixture between four bowls. Top each bowl with half of a chicken breast and drizzle with pesto and serve. You can also add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.2 tbsp basil pesto
Notes
**We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Serving: 1.5cupCalories: 725kcalCarbohydrates: 93gProtein: 35gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 810mgPotassium: 837mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 899IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 215mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
