Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta (Xander’s Babar Pasta Copycat)

Zoha Malik

by Zoha Malik

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Rated 5.00 out of 5

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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.

creamy tuscan chicken pasta in a black plate garnished with basil leaves
fork taking a bite out of tuscan chicken pasta in a black plate

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:

  1. 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
  2. I used linguini pasta instead of spaghetti. You are welcome to use spaghetti, but I just prefer linguini and think it works better
  3. 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

babar pasta ingredients shot from overhead

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.

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 1/2 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)

chicken tenders being cooked in a pan
seared chicken tenders in a saute pan

Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into thin, long strips, and set aside.

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.

cherry tomatoes and sundried tomatoes being fried in a pan
cherry tomatoes and sundried tomatoes being fried in a pan and have now become softer

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.

pasta sauce being made with milk and cream
grated parmesan cheese being mixed into tuscan pasta sauce

Fold in the chopped spinach and basil leaves, and stir to combine. Turn off the heat.

creamy tuscan pasta sauce in a saucepan; peach colored with chopped spinach leaves inside

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!

tuscan chicken pasta sauce with thin strips of chicken mixed in
tuscan chicken pasta in a saute pan

I like to garnish the pasta with chopped basil leaves, parmesan cheese, and more sundried and cherry tomatoes.

close up of creamy tuscan chicken pasta with chopped basil and cherry tomatoes on top

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use spaghetti instead of linguini?

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.

Can I omit the chicken?

Yes, you can skip the chicken and this pasta will still taste good! You can also add mushroom if you like.

What is a substitute for sundried tomatoes?

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!

Can I prepare this pasta ahead of time?

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.

Print
fork taking a bite out of tuscan chicken pasta in a black plate

Cream Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe (Xander’s Babar Pasta)

by Zoha Malik

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 stars from 32 reviews

The best pasta dish for this summer, inspired by the mega famous “Babar Pasta” from Xander’s Pakistan

Yield:6 servings

Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
50 mins

Ingredients

Pasta:

  • 1/2 pack Linguini pasta (1/2 lb or 225g)
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp oil

Chicken:

  • ~3-4 chicken tenders (~1/2 lb); can also use chicken breast
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 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 1/2 cups milk (360g)
  • 1/2 cup cream (120g)
  • 3/4 cup grated parmesan (+ more for garnish)
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • Handful of spinach leaves, chopped
  • 3–4 basil leaves, chopped (+ more for garnish)

Instructions

Pasta:

  1. Boil the pasta until it is al dente according to the instructions on the package
  2. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta and run it under cold water

Chicken:

  1. Coat the chicken with the seasonings thoroughly on all sides
  2. 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)
  3. Let the chicken rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes. Then slice it into strips against the grain

Tuscan sauce:

  1. In the same pan that you cooked the chicken in, add the butter and saute the garlic until it is fragrant (medium-high heat)
  2. Add the sundried tomatoes and chopped cherry tomatoes, and cook for ~5 minutes until the tomatoes soften
  3. Add the seasonings and stir for 30 seconds
  4. Add the milk and cream, and stir for a few minutes until the mixture boils and starts to look cohesive
  5. 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
  6. 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:

  1. Stir the chopped chicken and boiled pasta into the sauce until combined
  2. Serve fresh and warm, and garnish with chopped basil leaves, parmesan cheese, and fresh tomatoes

Video Tutorial

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Comments

  1. Anjum

    Loved this recipe. it’s the best!

    1. Zoha

      Thank you Anjum!

  2. Maheen

    Amazing recipe..exactly like xanders 😍

    1. Zoha

      YAY!

  3. Najia

    Soo creamy and yummy 😋 the best recipe ever! Thank you 😊

    1. Zoha

      Aww thank you so much!!

  4. Saman Imtiaz

    Absolutely delicious 🤤🤤🤤

    1. Zoha

      <3 <3 thank you!!

    2. Zoha

      YAY glad you like it! :’)

  5. Rimsha

    I’ve made this over 20 times (or more :p) so far and it always comes out delicious!!! Thank you for the amazing recipe!

    1. Zoha

      AH that means so much to me. Thank you!

  6. Miri

    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!

    1. Zoha

      WUHUU!! I love this pasta so much, now i want to try it with the veggies

  7. Haleemah

    Amazing!!! Kids loved it and so did the hubs. Your recipes have never failed me. Thank you once again for another amazing recipe

    1. Zoha

      Awww, thank you Haleemah! makes my heart so happy to hear that

  8. Rameesah Iqbal

    Tried this recipe and it came out absolutely amazing! Everyone loved it so much.

    1. Zoha

      Wuhu!! Glad to hear that ❤️

  9. Sakeena

    One of the besstt pastas I’ve had. We devoured it! Thank you! You are my go to person now!!

    1. Zoha

      Wuhuuu!!! So thrilled to hear that <3

  10. Nawal

    (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). ?

    1. Zoha

      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

  11. Nawal

    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!

    1. Zoha

      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 🙂

  12. Rabia

    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!!

    1. Zoha

      O my god :’) This makes me so happy! Thank you so much, Rabia!

  13. Shellin

    This recipe is delicious! It has become my 11 year old son’s favorite dish! Thank you so much for sharing!

    1. Riz S

      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!

      1. Zoha

        Yay thank you so much!!

  14. Bonnie White

    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.

    1. Zoha

      Hi Bonnie! Glad you liked it. I’m not sure I understand your question, though. Could you kindly explain?

  15. Zhanin

    Excellent enjoyed this , best pasta recipe I ever tried

    1. Zoha

      Aww, thank you so much! Makes me so happy to hear that

  16. Najba

    Absolutely delicious pasta.. it’s like a restaurant dish at home.
    The spinach just adds the extra yummyness to it ??

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much Najba! Glad you enjoyed this recipe <3

  17. Areesha Akram

    Made this today, everyone LOVED IT!

    1. Zoha

      Yay! Thank you!

  18. Miles Mercado

  19. Batool Ali

    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!!

    1. Zoha

      Oooof yummm!! Love your creativity with the substitutions and glad it turned out nice!

    2. Zoha

      Woopp! Thank you so much, Batool. Glad you made it work even with all the substitutions.

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