Cherry Tomato Sauce with Chicken (Paleo, Whole30)
Cherry Tomato Sauce with Chicken recipe. Cherry tomatoes, red onion, garlic, basil and oregano come together to create a fresh, flavorful, and chicken in a tomato and garlic sauce recipe that tastes amazing on top of veggies.
This Cherry Tomato Sauce with Chicken is an old favorite of mine. Cherry tomatoes, red onion, garlic, basil and oregano come together to create a fresh, flavorful, and light tomato sauce that tastes amazing on top of veggies.
The cherry tomatoes add a refreshing sweetness to the sauce and the chicken cooks in this luscious cherry tomato marinara for 30 minutes, absorbing the sauce flavors in the process.
If you are looking for a healthy Italian dish that includes chicken with cherry tomatoes, I highly suggest trying this one!
I love how light this chicken with cherry tomatoes dish is. It is light yet it tastes so fresh and has so much flavor.
It’s naturally Paleo and Whole30, which means it’s dairy-free. It’s also a great source of protein.
Speaking of protein… I tend to not love chicken but I love it here because it cooks in the crushed cherry tomato sauce for 30 minutes and just soaks in all the wonderful seasoning.
I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Ingredients needed to make this cherry tomato sauce with chicken:
- chicken
- cherry tomatoes
- red onion
- garlic
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- dried basil
- dried oregano
- red pepper flakes
How to make this chicken in a tomato and garlic sauce:
First, you will sauté the garlic and onions until they are fragrant and have softened.
Then, you add the chicken to the pan along with the salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes until they chicken is seared.
Next its all about making homemade tomato sauce from cherry tomatoes!
To do this, you put the cherry tomatoes into a food processor until they are crushed. Then you add the cherry tomatoes to the pan, along with basil and oregano and let everything simmer for 30 minutes.
That is it! It is so so easy to make this chicken with cherry tomatoes dish but so flavorful!
FAQ for this chicken with cherry tomatoes recipe
(1) Do you have to use cherry tomatoes in this recipe?
Yes! This is the key ingredient to the cherry tomato marinara here. The flavor of cherry tomatoes is different than regular tomatoes and it’s important to use them here.
(2) Do you have to use red onion or will a white onion work?
Again, yes you have to use red onion! This makes a really big difference in the flavor here.
Note: I’ve tried using regular tomatoes and white onion in this recipe and it just doesn’t taste as great. You’ll know what I mean about the cherry tomatoes and red onion when you taste this sauce.
(3) Can you use fresh herbs instead of dried?
Yes! Feel free to use fresh basil and oregano here instead of dried. I would use 2 Tbs of fresh chopped basil and 1 Tbs of fresh oregano.
Other healthy chicken recipes you may enjoy:
This Paleo Skillet Honey Sesame Chicken recipe is my go-to when I want take-out. It’s sweet and so delicious!
This Creamy Mustard Tomato Chicken Casserole is a great baked chicken recipe. It has the most wonderful sauce. DROOL.
This whole30 Chicken Picatta recipe from Mary’s Whole Life is delicious and one of my go-tos for nights I want something fancy but that is easy to make.
Cherry Tomato Sauce with Chicken (Paleo, Whole30)
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced red onion about ½ red onion
- 1 Tablespoon diced garlic 3-4 cloves
- 2 lbs chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- a dash of crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 lbs cherry tomatoes (about 3.5 cups)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil and then add the garlic and onion. Cook for 4 -5 minutes, mixing every so often, until fragrant and the onions have softened.
- Add the bite sized chicken to the pan, along with the salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 7-8 minutes until seared/browned. Take the pan off of heat and set it aside.
- Put the cherry tomatoes into a food processor and chop until crushed. There should be about 5 cups or crushed cherry tomatoes at this point. Put the cherry tomatoes into the pan with the chicken and mix everything together.
- Add the basil and oregano.
- Put the pan over medium-high heat until the mixture is boiling and then let reduce heat to low-medium and let everything simmer for 30 minutes. Add more salt and pepper to taste if you desire it.
Nutrition
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16 Comments on “Cherry Tomato Sauce with Chicken (Paleo, Whole30)”
Just finished eating this delicious recipe. I used 2 baskets of tomatoes that yielded 4 cups crushed and only 3/4 lb chicken. I was afraid the sauce was going to be too watery but it wasn’t, it cooked down beautifully. I also added some re-hydrated sundried tomatoes for a flavor boost. Stirred in some orecchiette pasta and topped with freshly grated Parmesan. I think it would be good to add some pan fried eggplant chunks when they are in season. Made 3 generous servings.
Love the idea of adding eggplant. YUM!
This soup is beautiful and I bet the addition of cherry tomatoes really kicks the old chicken soup up a notch!
This is a great idea to use cherry tomatoes for the sauce! They bring a beautiful sweet and tart combination) Love it!)
I don’t think there is a better combo that herbs and tomatoes, and you’ve completely nailed it with this recipe! I love cherry tomatoes but I don’t often have them cooked. Such a great idea to use them to make a sauce!
I love love cherry tomatoes. They’re so sweet and really make flavors pop. This looks like the perfect aromatic dish to serve with cauliflower rice or gluten free pasta. Thanks for sharing!
Every time I go to the store I have to pick up either cherry or grape tomatoes. They are so mild and lend a wonderful flavor to any dish. I can imagine how good that chicken tastes after it’s cooked in the sauce. I have a package of tomatoes that need to be used up – this recipe is ideal for tonight’s dinner.
LOVE this recipe! It looks a bit like butter chicken, but is SO much easier to make with way fewer ingredients! This with a side of cauli rice and I am in HEAVEN!
Yum I just love tomato sauce anything and this cherry tomato sauce with chicken is a dish I am very excited to try! I love anything made from whole ingredients, this is a winner in my books 100%
I love that sauce! This sounds delicious and super easy to make too!
I love that sauce! And it looks fairly easy to make.
Cherry Tomatoes are our family favorite. Love the sweetness it adds to anything you cook. I bet the chicken tasted so delicious. Love the flavors you have in this. Sounds so wholesome.
How many does this serve?
I love cherry tomatoes, but haven’t tried using them in a sauce before. It looks incredibly delicious! The color is so vibrant, and it sounds so flavorful. Definitely a must-try! 🙂
What pretty bright colors! I love when my meals are colorful, especially during the winter when it’s so cold and grey.
I agree. Cherry tomatoes and red onion give such peculiar, rich, and amazing flavor that they make all the difference. I am a vegetarian but I can see this a great, tasty dish!