This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Italian Chicken in Tomato Sauce is a complete meal that’s ready in no more than 25 minutes! It features tender chicken breasts smothered in a rich tomato sauce with a little kick, and pairs perfect with any side!
Not only is this recipe so simple and quick, but it’s packed full of flavor and a little bit of spice if you want!
Easy Italian Chicken with Roasted Green Beans
Easy weeknight dinners are the best, especially with young kids! And this quick cooking spicy Italian chicken in tomato sauce is a delicious dinner you can whip up when you have less than 30 minutes to get food on the table.
This meal is low-carb, paleo-friendly, whole30-approved, and so tasty. Talk about a win!
Ingredients Needed
This Italian chicken recipe is made with pantry staples you likely already have on-hand! Who doesn’t love a meal that doesn’t require you to make a trip to the store? Scroll down for the full recipe.
For The Chicken:
- Olive Oil: You’ll coat the chicken in olive oil to help with texture and help the seasonings stick. You’ll also use it in the pan for searing!
- Chicken: You will need 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced horizontally through the middle.
- Seasonings: Our spice combo is a simple but effective blend Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Aromatics: Onion and garlic are sautéed together to create a flavor base for the tomato sauce.
- Tomatoes: You’ll need 1 1/2 cups of whole plum tomatoes in sauce.
- Optional Add-Ins: I like to add some red pepper flakes for heat and spinach for color!
Chicken Tip!
Don’t forget to slice the chicken horizontally into two thinner pieces before cooking! The thinner pieces cook more evenly and more quickly.
For The Green Beans:
…or make these Garlicky Blistered Green Beans!
- Green Beans: You’ll need 2 cups of fresh green beans, cleaned. You can buy these ready-to-go in a bag at the store to save time or prep your own!
- Olive Oil: Coating the green beans in olive oil helps them achieve that perfect roasted texture.
- Seasonings: We’re tying these in with the chicken with a blend of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
How to Make This Dish
- Cook the green beans: On a sheet pan, combine the green beans with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss so that the green beans are well coated, then roast at 400ºF until crisp-tender.
- Sear the chicken: Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, then add in oil. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, season generously with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, then add the chicken into the hot pan. Sear on each side for 3-4 minutes or until browned all over.
- Make the sauce: Once the chicken is browned, add the onion to the pan and cook until softened. Next, add in the garlic and cook for a quick 30 seconds or so. Lower the heat to medium-low, then add in the tomatoes and optional red pepper flakes. Simmer until the sauce has reduced and the chicken is cooked through. Ditch the red pepper flakes for less spice!
- Finish and serve: Taste and re-season, as desired. If you’re using spinach, add that to the pan and allow it to wilt. Once the spinach is wilted, serve the chicken hot topped with sauce and with a side of freshly roasted green beans.
Can You Cook Raw Chicken in Sauce?
Well yes, though, I do recommend searing the chicken before cooking it in the sauce.
The quick sear at high heat before cooking gives the chicken that perfect, crispy exterior plus those brown bits stuck to the bottom (that come up in the sauce) add so much flavor.
Simmering in the sauce at a lower heat makes it extra flavorful and tender!
Tips and Notes
- Pat the chicken dry. Removing excess moisture from the chicken helps achieve that crispy exterior when searing.
- Check the temp. A safe temperature for chicken is 165ºF. I recommend checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer before serving!
- Want a creamy sauce? Try adding a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half to make it a little bit richer!
Serving Suggestions
This is a low-carb, complete meal as-is. However, you can totally bulk it up a little bit by serving your chicken and tomato sauce over a bed of rice, pasta couscous, or quinoa.
Want to fill your meal out with another side dish? Here are some ideas:
How to Store
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, simply warm the chicken in the sauce on the stove until heated through.
Leftover roasted green beans can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. To reheat, simply pop them back in the oven to warm and re-crisp.
More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- Chicken Marsala
- Roasted Chicken Dinner
- Gluten-Free Chicken Cutlets
- Sheet Pan Ranch Chicken and Veggies
Italian Chicken in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
Roasted Green Beans:
- 2 cups green beans cleaned
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- big pinch sea salt and black pepper
Italian Spiced Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced horizontally through the middle
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt more to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper more to taste
- 1 1/2 cups whole plum tomatoes in sauce
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes optional
- 2 handfuls fresh organic spinach optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. On a sheet pan add green beans, olive oil, italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Once the oven has heated cook until the green beans are tender, about 10-12 minutes.
- Meanwhile heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add oil.
- Pat chicken dry. Season with Italian seasoning, sea salt, and pepper on both sides.
- Once pan is hot, sear chicken for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until all sides are browned.
- Add onion to the pan and cook until the onions turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Lower heat to medium-low and add in tomatoes, red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until sauce has reduced and the chicken is fully cooked through. Season additionally, to taste. If adding spinach, add in at the end and let wilt.
- Serve chicken hot with green beans or side of choice.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, simply warm the chicken in the sauce on the stove until heated through.
Notes
- Pat the chicken dry. Removing excess moisture from the chicken helps achieve that crispy exterior when searing.
- Check the temp. A safe temperature for chicken is 165ºF. I recommend checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer before serving!
- Want a creamy sauce? Try adding a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half to make it a little bit richer!
Do you remove chicken once browned and then add in at end or leave in entire cooking time?
The chicken stays in the pan for the entire cooking time.
Made it! Loved it! Posted it on my IG account!?
What a great recipe! These are all ingredients that most people have on hand, which makes this a quick-to-whip-up dinner! Love it. Can’t wait to try it!
I tried this recipe for dinner just now and it was absolutely amazing! I will definitely be trying more recipes from your site, thank you so much!