Description
This Crispy Garlic Chicken Pasta with Bruschetta is a delightful mix of crunchy chicken coated in garlic spread and panko breadcrumbs paired with tender spaghetti tossed in a garlic butter sauce and topped with vibrant bruschetta sauce. Ready in just 27 minutes, this recipe combines easy air frying with classic stovetop pasta cooking for a flavorful, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 ounces garlic spread, divided
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Pasta
- ½ pound (8 ounces) spaghetti noodles
- ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water (plus additional as needed)
Topping
- 14.5 ounces bruschetta sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create thinner pieces for even cooking. This helps the chicken cook quickly and stay juicy inside while becoming crispy on the outside.
- Coat the chicken with garlic spread: Measure out ½ cup of the garlic spread and thoroughly coat all sides of each chicken piece. This adds moisture and infuses the chicken with a robust garlic flavor.
- Apply the breadcrumb coating: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Press each coated chicken piece into the breadcrumbs, ensuring every side is evenly covered for maximum crispiness.
- Air fry the chicken: Place the breadcrumb-coated chicken breasts into the air fryer basket. Optionally, spray them lightly with cooking spray to enhance browning. Air fry at 400°F for 6 minutes, then flip each piece and air fry for an additional 6 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and golden.
- Cook the pasta: While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti noodles and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve pasta water and drain: Before draining, scoop out 1 cup of pasta cooking water and set aside. Then drain the pasta well to remove excess water.
- Toss pasta with garlic spread: Transfer the drained pasta to a large bowl. Add the remaining ½ cup garlic spread along with ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss to combine, adding more pasta water gradually until the sauce reaches your preferred consistency, creating a silky garlic coating on the noodles.
- Assemble the dish: Plate a serving of the garlic pasta, top with a piece of crispy air-fried chicken. Spoon a generous amount of bruschetta sauce over the chicken and pasta, then serve immediately while warm and flavorful.
Notes
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can alternatively cook the chicken in the oven or pan-fry on the stove. For baking, preheat oven to 400°F and bake the breaded chicken for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway. For stove, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
- Adjust the amount of reserved pasta water when tossing to achieve your ideal sauce consistency; the starchy water helps bind the garlic spread to the noodles.
- Use fresh bruschetta sauce or homemade for the best flavor and texture contrast against the crispy chicken and creamy pasta.
- This recipe can be adapted by adding vegetables like spinach or roasted peppers to the pasta for extra nutrition and color.
