Never have I ever received as many requests for a recipe as I have for this Xander's Babar Pasta inspired Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta! And I have to tell you guys: this is probably in the top 3 savory dishes I have ever made.
The pasta is creamy and cheesy while still being incredibly fresh and summery, with the addition of sundried tomatoes, fresh cherry tomatoes, and basil taking it to the next level. It is also quite simple to make, and comes together in under an hour! If you try one simple savory recipe of mine... maybe it should be this one. I can't think of a single person who won't love it.
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THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS RECIPE
A month or so ago, I visited Karachi, Pakistan for the first time, and went to the popular cafe, Xander's. Unsure what to order, I asked the manager what he recommended, and he told me to try their popular "Babar pasta". I was confused by the name, but turns out the pasta is simply named after someone who inspired the recipe. The description was that of a Tuscan chicken pasta with sundried tomatoes, which sounded really good. So I went for it.
Lo and behold, the pasta arrived, and it did not disappoint. It was probably the best meal I had in Karachi. It was creamy, well seasoned, fresh, and just incredibly comforting.
I shared a story on Instagram, and immediately, with the quick onslaught of DMs, realized that the Babar pasta has nothing short of a cult following. So it was a no brainer - I had to recreate the recipe. I took note of the ingredients and flavor profile of the pasta as I had it, and got to work in my kitchen as soon as I returned to the States.
I am SO pleased with how my recipe turned out! If my memory serves me right, I think it tastes just like the Babar pasta, and is just as delicious, if not better. But, if we are being highly nitpicky, there are three main differences:
- I added a small amount of chopped spinach, whereas I don't believe Babar pasta has any. You can easily omit the spinach, but I think it adds beautiful color and flavor
- I used linguini pasta instead of spaghetti. You are welcome to use spaghetti, but I just prefer linguini and think it works better
- The Babar pasta is garnished with cilantro, but I used basil leaves, which I think complement the Italian flavor profile of the pasta more
SO yeah - now let's get into the recipe!
INGREDIENTS REQUIRED
Here are the ingredients you will need for this Tuscan chicken pasta (exact quantities are in the recipe card below):
Chicken:
- Boneless chicken tenders or breast
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cayenne
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning - you can also sub oregano or dried basil
- Olive oil
Pasta:
- Linguini or spaghetti - the original recipe uses spaghetti, but I prefer linguini. Really, you can use any kind of pasta you like to eat!
- Unsalted butter - if you use salted, you can adjust the amount of added salt as needed
- Fresh garlic, chopped
- Sundried tomato - this usually comes in jars, and you want to add the oil from the jar as well as it contains a lot of flavor. I used crushed sundried tomatoes, but if you have a jar of whole sundried tomatoes, you can chop them up roughly yourself
- Cherry tomatoes
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chili flakes
- Milk
- Cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Spinach - this is optional, but I think it really elevates the pasta
- Fresh basil leaves
HOW TO MAKE CREAMY TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA
Now let's go through the process step by step. Here's a quick video where you can see everything in action:
1. Boil the pasta
Firstly, boil the pasta you're using according to the instructions on the package until it is al dente (meaning it still has a bite to it).
Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and run it under cold water so it doesn't stick together.
2. Prepare the chicken
Next, massage the chicken with the seasonings, and pan fry it in a heavy-bottomed skillet until it is cooked through and nicely seared on both sides. I cook the chicken tenders for ~3-4 minutes per side on high heat, but the timing will depend on how thick your chicken is.
I like to use my Caraway Sauté pan, as I find it is the perfect size for this pasta and love how it is non-stick and non-toxic! Caraway is currently offering 10% sitewide - simply follow this link, and you don't need a discount code. (affiliate link)
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into thin, long strips, and set aside.
Tip: Cut the chicken against its grain, as that will make it much easier to break it into smaller pieces using a fork when eating the pasta!
3. Make the creamy Tuscan pasta sauce
In the same pan you cooked the chicken in, melt the butter and sauté the garlic on medium heat until it is fragrant. Add the sundried tomato and freshly chopped cherry tomatoes, and sauté for 3-5 minutes until the tomatoes soften. Then add the seasonings and mix in.
Next, add the milk and cream, and stir on medium-low heat until the sauce starts to become cohesive and thicken up. At this point, add the parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water, and cook until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. It should be not be liquid, but also not too thick, as it will thicken up more as the pasta cools down.
Fold in the chopped spinach and basil leaves, and stir to combine. Turn off the heat.
4. Assemble and serve
Add the sliced chicken to the sauce and stir. Then, mix in the boiled pasta, taste and adjust seasoning as needed, and you are ready to serve!
I like to garnish the pasta with chopped basil leaves, parmesan cheese, and more sundried and cherry tomatoes.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, you can use any kind of pasta that you like as long as you cook it according to the instructions on its package. I like linguini, spaghetti, and penne for this recipe.
Yes, you can skip the chicken and this pasta will still taste good! You can also add mushroom if you like.
If you don't have sundried tomatoes, you can skip them and add more chopped cherry tomatoes instead. However, the beautiful rustic flavor or this pasta does rely on sundried tomatoes, so I highly recommend getting your hands on them if possible!
I recommend making this pasta fresh before serving for best results. Pasta can become a bit mushy, and the sauce becomes a bit too thick, once it is refrigerated.
CREAMY TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA (XANDER'S BABAR PASTA COPYCAT) RECIPE
- Total Time: 50 min
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Description
The best pasta dish for this summer, inspired by the mega famous "Babar Pasta" from Xander's Pakistan
Ingredients
Pasta:
- ½ pack Linguini pasta (½ lb or 225g)
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp oil
Chicken:
- ~3-4 chicken tenders (~½ lb); can also use chicken breast
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Sauce:
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tbsp sundried tomato from a jar, including the oil / juices from the jar, crushed or chopped
- 8 cherry tomatoes, roughly chopped
- Salt, pepper and chili flakes to taste
- 1 ½ cups milk (360g)
- ½ cup cream (120g)
- ¾ cup grated parmesan (+ more for garnish)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- Handful of spinach leaves, chopped
- 3-4 basil leaves, chopped (+ more for garnish)
Instructions
Pasta:
- Boil the pasta until it is al dente according to the instructions on the package
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta and run it under cold water
Chicken:
- Coat the chicken with the seasonings thoroughly on all sides
- Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium high heat, and cook the chicken on both sides until it is cooked through and seared (~3-4 min per side depending on how thick it is)
- Let the chicken rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes. Then slice it into strips against the grain
Tuscan sauce:
- In the same pan that you cooked the chicken in, add the butter and saute the garlic until it is fragrant (medium-high heat)
- Add the sundried tomatoes and chopped cherry tomatoes, and cook for ~5 minutes until the tomatoes soften
- Add the seasonings and stir for 30 seconds
- Add the milk and cream, and stir for a few minutes until the mixture boils and starts to look cohesive
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water, and cook until the sauce starts to thicken up. It should still be quite runny, as it will thicken up more once you add the pasta in later
- Once the sauce is done, turn off the heat and stir in the chopped spinach and basil leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed
Assembly:
- Stir the chopped chicken and boiled pasta into the sauce until combined
- Serve fresh and warm, and garnish with chopped basil leaves, parmesan cheese, and fresh tomatoes
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Italian
RELATED RECIPES
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to leave a rating and review before. Also check out my popular savory recipes:
- The best Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
- Viral Tandoori Chicken Naan Buns
- Easy Spicy Chicken Tikka Sliders
Batool Ali says
Made this with ingredients I had on hand. Spaghetti instead of linguine, made my own white sauce because didnt have cream and parmesan, used crushed tomato from can and had some home made peri peri masala which I used for the chicken. Made it right after watching your video, it was delicious!!
Zoha says
Woopp! Thank you so much, Batool. Glad you made it work even with all the substitutions.
Zoha says
Oooof yummm!! Love your creativity with the substitutions and glad it turned out nice!
Areesha Akram says
Made this today, everyone LOVED IT!
Zoha says
Yay! Thank you!
Zee says
Wow!!! One of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever eaten!
Zhanin says
Excellent enjoyed this , best pasta recipe I ever tried
Zoha says
Aww, thank you so much! Makes me so happy to hear that
Najba says
Absolutely delicious pasta.. it’s like a restaurant dish at home.
The spinach just adds the extra yummyness to it ??
Zoha says
Thank you so much Najba! Glad you enjoyed this recipe <3
Bonnie White says
Loved it. Made today. Only thing I have question with is the pasta water didn’t thicken it very well. How else can I thicken the sauce? Thanks for the recipe and your help.
Zoha says
Hi Bonnie! Glad you liked it. I'm not sure I understand your question, though. Could you kindly explain?
Shellin says
This recipe is delicious! It has become my 11 year old son’s favorite dish! Thank you so much for sharing!
Riz S says
I have only recently come across bakewithzoha page and this is the first recipe I tried. It was easy to follow and tasted amazing.I have had everyone ask me for the recipe! Thank you!
Zoha says
Yay thank you so much!!
Rabia says
This was the best pasta dish i have ever tasted and it was made by me (Thank you so much for sharing this recipe). From the lip smacking noodles to the juicy chicken everything was on point. The tips are so helpful. Thank you once again for the recipe!!
Zoha says
O my god :') This makes me so happy! Thank you so much, Rabia!
Nawal says
Made this for dinner last night and we couldn't get enough. Saved some for myself to savour the next day, and leftovers have never actually tasted so good! Happy tears!
Also, this was my first time working with sundried tomato, so I was really nervous going into this but it turned out so good. Never doubt a Zoha recipe!
Zoha says
Oh I know sundried tomato can sound weird but it tastes absolutely delicious, doesn't it!? I am so happy you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do 🙂
Nawal says
(Already commented, but I have to add):
She is "Bake with Zoha" but I love her savoury recipes just as much and they are absolutely foolproof. You just can't go wrong. I've also tried the chicken puffs and chicken pot pie (couldn't find the recipes on the website), and both were a hit. I make several chicken puffs and have them in the freezer now as a go to snack / to serve surprise guests / lazy breakfast / starters for dinner parties. I bake them in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes each side.
Love this project called "trying every single one of Zoha's recipes". Documenting my journey with her at this point, and so far every single recipe is a 5 star AND a family hit (and everyone knows it's the hardest to impress relatives and family members). ?
Zoha says
Nawal, you are SO special!! You have no idea how much this means to me, I am smiling like a goof reading this comment. Thank you for trusting my recipes and taking the time to write this note of encouragement to me. I hope you will continue to love my recipes and hope to meet some day!! <3
Sakeena says
One of the besstt pastas I’ve had. We devoured it! Thank you! You are my go to person now!!
Zoha says
Wuhuuu!!! So thrilled to hear that <3
Rameesah Iqbal says
Tried this recipe and it came out absolutely amazing! Everyone loved it so much.
Zoha says
Wuhu!! Glad to hear that ❤️
Haleemah says
Amazing!!! Kids loved it and so did the hubs. Your recipes have never failed me. Thank you once again for another amazing recipe
Zoha says
Awww, thank you Haleemah! makes my heart so happy to hear that
Miri says
Thanks Zoha for the recipe! It was amazing and the flavors were bursting in the mouth! I just added additional veggies like mushrooms and peppers which made it delicious!
Zoha says
WUHUU!! I love this pasta so much, now i want to try it with the veggies
Rimsha says
I’ve made this over 20 times (or more :p) so far and it always comes out delicious!!! Thank you for the amazing recipe!
Zoha says
AH that means so much to me. Thank you!
Saman Imtiaz says
Absolutely delicious 🤤🤤🤤
Zoha says
YAY glad you like it! :')
Zoha says
<3 <3 thank you!!
Najia says
Soo creamy and yummy 😋 the best recipe ever! Thank you 😊
Zoha says
Aww thank you so much!!
Maheen says
Amazing recipe..exactly like xanders 😍
Zoha says
YAY!
Anjum says
Loved this recipe. it's the best!
Zoha says
Thank you Anjum!
Dooby says
The best pasta recipe I’ve made! The entire dish finished within minutes. This recipe is truly a gem
Zoha says
I am so incredibly honored to hear that!
Faiza Fatema says
Very on point. Awesome!
Zoha says
Thank you!
Xhra Rizvi says
Thank you so much for this! My hubby and kids devoured this tonight with the 2 yr old having used her hands instead of the fork as it was too delicious!
Zoha says
So happy to hear that, Xhra! Thank you 🙂
Marose DVRM says
This is always a killer every time I cook it. No leftovers even if I add more servings . They love it so much. Thanks for sharing.
Zoha says
AH - thank you so so much!
Aqusa says
Very good recipe. I swapped the spaghetti with chick pea penne and made it without basil since I didn’t find any at our store but very tasty dish! I would top with chilli oil for a kick!
Zoha says
YUM - thanks for sharing, Aqusa!
ZOHRA says
The recipe was absolutely delicious. I used chopped Roma tomatoes in place of the cherry tomatoes as that is what I had and it came out perfectly. I used penne pasta which soaked up the sauce beautifully. The butter sauted chicken and pureed sun dried tomatoes definitely gave it a distinctive flavor. Thank You Zoha
Zoha says
Yay 🙂 Thank you so much for giving my recipe a go, Rohma! Really happy you liked it!
Maidah says
This is my go to recipe now for when I have guests over at short notice. Easy to make and always gets compliments.
Zoha says
:') Thank you SOOO much!
Maryam says
This turned out so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Zoha says
Thank YOU!!