Italian Chicken Marinara Recipe From Scratch

Why You’ll Love This this Italian Chicken Marinara

This Italian Chicken Marinara combines tender, bite-sized chicken pieces with a rich, slow-simmered tomato sauce that develops deep flavors over an hour of gentle bubbling on your stovetop.

The recipe builds layers of taste by first browning garlic until golden, then adding mushrooms and onions that meld beautifully with the chicken before everything gets snug together in that gorgeous marinara base.

You’ll end up with a restaurant-quality dish that’s actually pretty forgiving to make at home, plus your kitchen will smell absolutely incredible while it’s cooking away.

Ingredients List

You’ll need just a handful of pantry staples and fresh ingredients to create this comforting Italian masterpiece that feeds a crowd.

• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 14 ounces water
• 5 garlic cloves
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 16 ounces pasta (spaghetti, angel hair, penne, etc)

A few healthy swaps to take into account:

• Choose whole wheat pasta for extra fiber and nutrients that’ll keep you fuller longer
• Go easy on the parmesan since a little goes a long way for flavor
• The mushrooms add great umami while keeping calories low
• Using olive oil instead of butter gives you those heart-healthy fats
• All those tomatoes pack serious lycopene, which is basically nature’s antioxidant powerhouse

Step by Step Directions

This hearty Italian dish comes together in just a few simple steps that build layers of rich, savory flavor.

• Sauté garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil until lightly brown and set aside.
• Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
• Cook chicken, mushrooms and onion in same skillet with remaining olive oil until chicken is white throughout, seasoning with salt and pepper as preferred.
• Add tomato paste, cooked garlic and mix well.
• Add crushed tomatoes, basil, and water and mix well.
• Bring to boil, then lower to a simmer and cover sauce with a lid for an hour, stirring occasionally and seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
• Midway through simmering, add wine and stir well, then resume covered simmering.
• During last fifteen minutes or so, cook pasta according to directions on package.
• In large bowl, pour sauce over cooked pasta and mix well.
• Sprinkle cheese on top and serve.

For the freshest pasta experience, consider using a premium pasta maker to create homemade noodles that perfectly complement this rich marinara sauce.

Substitutions and Variations

• Cheese options – Sure, Parmesan is classic, but mozzarella, Romano, or even a sharp cheddar will melt into creamy goodness.

Mix and match based on what’s calling your name from the cheese drawer.

• Spice it up – Red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne, or some hot sauce will wake up those taste buds if you’re feeling adventurous.

Additional Things to Serve With This Dish

This hearty chicken marinara practically begs for some tasty sidekicks to round out the meal.

• Garlic bread – Because to be truthful, is there any pasta dish that doesn’t benefit from buttery, garlicky bread for sopping up every last drop of that marinara goodness?
• Caesar salad – The crisp romaine and tangy dressing provide a perfect contrast to all that rich, tomatoey sauce, plus it makes you feel like you’re getting your vegetables.
• Roasted vegetables – Zucchini, bell peppers, or broccoli tossed with olive oil and herbs will add some color to your plate and make the whole spread look more impressive.
• Antipasto platter – Olives, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, and marinated artichokes turn this into a proper Italian feast, though you might need to loosen your belt afterward.
• Simple green salad – Sometimes all you need is mixed greens with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness, especially if you went heavy on the cheese.
• Crusty Italian rolls – Perfect for when garlic bread feels like too much work but you still need something to mop up that sauce.

Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)

A few insider secrets can turn your chicken marinara from good to absolutely swoon-worthy, and trust me, these little tricks make all the difference.

• Don’t rush the garlic – Let it get golden and fragrant, but pull it off the heat before it turns bitter because burnt garlic will haunt your entire dish with its acrid flavor.
• Cut chicken evenly – Uniform pieces mean everything cooks at the same rate, so you won’t end up with some bits that are dry as cardboard while others are still pink in the middle.
• Use that fond – All those browned bits stuck to the bottom of your pan after cooking the chicken are pure flavor gold, so scrape them up when you add the tomatoes.
• Taste as you go – The sauce will change dramatically during that hour-long simmer, so keep adjusting the salt and pepper because what tastes bland at the beginning might be perfect by the end.
• Add the wine at the right time – Halfway through cooking gives the alcohol time to cook off while leaving behind that rich, complex flavor that makes people think you’re fancier than you actually are.
• Save some pasta water – That starchy, salty liquid is liquid gold for loosening up your sauce if it gets too thick, plus it helps everything cling together like a proper Italian marriage.
• Don’t overcook the pasta – Aim for just shy of al dente since it’ll continue cooking when you toss it with that hot sauce.

Nutritional Facts

This hearty Italian dish packs plenty of protein while keeping calories reasonable per serving.

• Calories per serving: Approximately 520-580 calories (recipe serves 6)
• Protein powerhouse: Each serving delivers 28-32 grams of lean protein from the chicken breast
• Carbohydrates: Around 65-70 grams per serving, primarily from the pasta and tomatoes
• Fat content: Moderate at 8-12 grams per serving, mainly from the olive oil and parmesan cheese
• Fiber boost: 4-6 grams per serving thanks to the crushed tomatoes and vegetables
• Sodium consideration: Can range from 600-900mg per serving depending on added salt and cheese amount
• Rich in lycopene: The crushed tomatoes provide this powerful antioxidant that’s even more bioavailable when cooked
• Vitamin C: One serving provides about 20-25% of daily vitamin C needs from the tomatoes
• B-vitamins: Good source of niacin and B6 from the chicken, plus folate from the enriched pasta
• Potassium: Approximately 600-700mg per serving from tomatoes and mushrooms
• Low saturated fat: Only 2-3 grams per serving, making it heart-friendly
• Iron content: Provides about 15% of daily iron needs, especially when using enriched pasta

Fun “Did You Know?”

Beyond its impressive nutritional profile, this classic Italian dish carries fascinating stories that’ll make your next dinner conversation as rich as the marinara itself.

Marinara actually means “sailor’s style” in Italian, originating from seafaring families who needed quick, shelf-stable meals. The sauce contains no seafood—it was simply practical for sailors’ wives to prepare.

Curiously, tomatoes weren’t accepted in Italian cuisine until the 18th century because wealthy Europeans feared they were poisonous. They ate from pewter plates, and tomatoes’ acidity caused lead poisoning.

Once this mystery was solved, tomato-based dishes like chicken marinara became Italian staples we cherish today.