🍅🍝 Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Ravioli
Tender chicken and pillowy ravioli tossed in a luxurious creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, finished with Parmesan, garlic, and Italian herbs.
This easy skillet dinner combines juicy seasoned chicken, your favorite ravioli, sweet-tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and a silky Parmesan cream sauce. It’s restaurant-style comfort food that’s simple enough for a weeknight.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Stovetop / One-Skillet
🛒 Ingredients
🍝 For the Ravioli & Chicken
- 1 pound (450g) frozen ravioli, any favorite variety
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
🍅 For the Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup (about 75g) sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120ml) chicken broth
- ¾ cup (75g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup (60ml) reserved ravioli cooking water, as needed
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Optional Garnish
- Extra Parmesan
- Fresh basil
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- A drizzle of olive oil
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
Cut them into bite-size pieces and season with:
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
Toss well so the seasoning evenly coats the chicken.
🍝 2. Cook the Ravioli
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the frozen ravioli and cook according to the package directions, usually until the ravioli float and are tender.
Before draining, reserve approximately ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
Drain the ravioli gently and set aside.
Avoid overcooking the ravioli because they will finish warming in the sauce.
🍗 3. Sear the Chicken
While the ravioli cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer.
Cook for approximately 5–7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
🍅 Make the Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
4. Sauté the Garlic and Tomatoes
Reduce the skillet heat to medium.
If the pan looks dry, add a small drizzle of olive oil.
Add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
Cook for approximately 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Be careful not to burn the garlic.
5. Add the Tomato Paste
Stir in the tomato paste.
Cook for approximately 1 minute, stirring continuously.
Cooking the tomato paste briefly deepens its flavor and gives the sauce a richer color.
6. Add the Cream and Broth
Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth.
Add the Italian seasoning and black pepper.
Stir well, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen the flavorful browned bits left from the chicken.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
🧀 7. Add the Parmesan
Reduce the heat to low.
Gradually stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Continue stirring until the cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
Avoid boiling the sauce aggressively after adding the Parmesan, as high heat can cause the sauce to become grainy.
🍝 8. Combine Everything
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet.
Add the drained ravioli.
Gently toss everything together until the ravioli and chicken are completely coated in the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
If the sauce is too thick, add reserved ravioli cooking water 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
🌿 9. Finish the Dish
Stir in the fresh basil or parsley.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, black pepper, or red pepper flakes if needed.
Let everything simmer gently for 1–2 minutes so the flavors come together.
🍽️ 10. Serve
Spoon the creamy chicken ravioli into bowls.
Finish with:
- Freshly grated Parmesan
- Chopped basil
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Serve immediately while hot and creamy.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Don’t overcook the ravioli: Follow the package instructions and remove them as soon as they’re tender.
Reserve pasta water: The starchy water helps loosen and emulsify the sauce without making it watery.
Use freshly grated Parmesan: It melts much more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
Don’t boil the cream sauce: A gentle simmer keeps the sauce smooth and creamy.
Brown the chicken well: Those golden bits add extra flavor to the sauce.
Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes: They tend to have a richer flavor and softer texture. Drain them well before chopping.
Adjust the spice: Reduce the red pepper flakes for a mild sauce or add more for extra heat.
🍅 Easy Variations
🥬 Tuscan Chicken Ravioli
Add 2 cups fresh baby spinach to the sauce during the final few minutes of cooking.
🍄 Mushroom Chicken Ravioli
Sauté 8 oz (225g) sliced mushrooms after cooking the chicken, then continue with the sauce.
🥓 Bacon Sun-Dried Tomato Ravioli
Cook 4 slices of chopped bacon until crisp, then use some of the rendered fat to sauté the chicken.
🌶️ Spicy Creamy Ravioli
Increase the red pepper flakes and add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
🧄 Extra-Garlic Ravioli
Add an additional 1–2 cloves of minced garlic to the sauce.
🧀 Extra-Cheesy
Stir in ½ cup shredded mozzarella along with the Parmesan for an even richer sauce.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
Serve this creamy ravioli with:
- Garlic bread
- Crusty Italian bread
- Caesar salad
- Simple green salad
- Roasted asparagus
- Steamed broccoli
- Sautéed spinach
A crisp green salad makes a particularly nice contrast to the rich cream sauce.
🧊 Storage
Allow leftovers to cool before transferring them to an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.
The sauce will thicken considerably when chilled.
🔥 Reheating
Reheat gently in a skillet over low to medium-low heat.
Add a splash of chicken broth, milk, or cream to loosen the sauce.
Stir gently until warmed through.
Avoid high heat, which can cause the creamy sauce to separate.
❄️ Freezing
Because of the creamy Parmesan sauce and ravioli texture, freezing is not recommended for the best results.
If necessary, freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently with a splash of cream or broth.
🍅🍝 Final Result
This Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Ravioli is rich, comforting, and packed with flavor.
Every bite combines tender seasoned chicken, soft ravioli, sweet-tangy sun-dried tomatoes, fragrant garlic, Italian herbs, and a silky Parmesan cream sauce.
Creamy, cheesy, savory, slightly spicy, and completely irresistible. 😋🍅🧀🍝