This is the ultimate family dinner solution — juicychicken with pasta and tomatoes! A simple meal combining tender chicken thighs, aromatic herbs, and a rich tomato sauce that will have your kids asking for seconds. Perfect for busy moms who need a delicious, crowd-pleasing meal without spending hours in the kitchen!

chicken with pasta and tomatoes in a white bowl.

The most delicious flavor combo and theheartiest ingredientsto make for a meal you’ll crave on extra-chilly nights when you only want to snuggle up on the couch with your family and watch a movie.The greatest thing is that creating such a rich meal takes almost no effortand you’re all set for a cozy, cozy dinner.

The chicken thighs slowly bake in a rich tomato sauce, absorbing all those beautiful herbs and creating a tender and juicy chicken meal that tastes like you spent all day cooking. The hands-on time for this dish is very minimal and the oven does most of the work!

tomato and garlic pasta with chicken thigh in white bowls with forks.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken with Pasta and Tomatoes Recipe

So Juicy:Chicken thighs have a higher fat content thanchicken breasts, contributing to their juiciness and tenderness, especially when cooked properly.
Super Easy:It’s so easy and to prepare this dish, making it a popular choice for weeknight meals or when hands-on time is limited. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a satisfying dish that’s mostly cooked in the oven.
Budget-Friendly: Chicken thighs are not only more flavorful than breasts but also typically less expensive, making this a wallet-friendly option for feeding hungry families.
Make-Ahead Marvel: This dish reheats beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights when everyone eats at different times.

🍗 I stock up on chicken thighs when they go on sale so I’m always ready for aneasy-to-prep flavorful oven meal!

Recipe Ingredients

Chicken thighs—bone-in and skin-on
Olive oil
Butter
Tomatoes —canned or fresh
Tomato paste
Fresh rosemary, thyme, basil, and parsley —or 1 teaspoon each dried herbs
Garlic
Pasta
Parmesan —for serving

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

close up of chicken thigh roasting in the tomato sauce in stainless pan.

How to Make Chicken With Pasta And Tomatoes

Step 1:Add the chicken thighs to the pan and sear till golden and crispy.

Step 2:Pour in tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Bring sauce to a boil, then turn off heat. Add herbs, garlic, and chicken to the pan.

chicken with tomato sauce over garlic twisty pasta in a white bowl top view.

Step 3:Cover the pan and bake for 1 hour. Remove pot from oven, and allow it to sit while you boil the pasta. Cook the pasta to al dente. Drain and add to a large serving bowl.

Step 4:Pour sauce over cooked pasta, then arrange chicken pieces over the top. Sprinkle generously with fresh parmesan and serve.

Recipe FAQs

What kind of pasta do you use in chicken and tomato garlic pasta?

You can truly pick any type of pasta that you like or prefer for this dish — it’s flexible! I used cavatappi noodles that are like little corkscrews simply because they’re fun and hang onto the sauce well! Penne, spaghetti, or bowtie pasta would also work well for this dish.

How do you store pasta leftovers?

I prefer storing pasta sauce and noodles separately so that the noodles don’t soak up a bunch of sauce and become soggy. Store the sauce (with the chicken) in one airtight container and the noodles in another container (with a drizzle of olive oil over top so they don’t stick together too much).

How long can you keep cooked pasta in the refrigerator?

Pasta and tomato garlic sauce with chicken will store well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How to you pan sear chicken?

Heat olive oil and butter in an oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. When the oil and butter are hot, add the chicken and let it sear until browned and the skin is crispy on all sides, about 2 minutes. It won’t cook all the way through yet, so don’t worry about that. It will finish cooking in the oven.

tomato and garlic cavatappi pasta with chicken thigh in white bowl.

Expert Tips

Bone-In:recommend using bone-in chicken thighs with the skin.The bone helps retain moisture, and the skin crisps up beautifully when cooked properly.
Don’t Skip the Browning: Taking the time to properly brown the chicken thighs creates a beautiful depth of flavor and helps the skin get crispy. Those browned bits on the bottom of the pan are flavor gold!
Fresh Herbs at the End: If using fresh herbs, reserve a small amount to sprinkle over the finished dish just before serving. This adds a beautiful pop of color and fresh flavor that elevates the entire meal.
Garlic Tip:Be careful not to burn the garlic,as it can become bitter.It burns very quickly!

Other Flavorful Chicken Thigh Recipes

Chicken thighs are such a great ingredient for a filling meal that’s flavorful and tender. Here are some really great recipes that use chicken thighs!

Roasted Chicken Thighs & Potatoes:Perfect sheet pan mealon a night you need the oven to do the work.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken:Hands-downone of my family’s favorite meals— creamy, rich flavors and a tasty sauce that pairs well with almost anything.
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs:Absolutely theJUICIEST chicken thighs ever– and they are delightfully crispy on the outside.