30-Minute Microwave Angel Hair
Fresh tomato basil sauce meets grilled chicken breast over microwave-cooked angel hair pasta. Bright Mediterranean flavors from grape tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and fresh basil create a light yet satisfying dish. The combination of grilled protein and cold-set tomato sauce offers contrasting textures. Serve as a weeknight dinner or light lunch. This version uniquely combines microwave pasta convenience with grilled chicken for texture contrast, finishing with a raw tomato sauce rather than cooked.
Ingredients
- 2 cup grape tomatoes, whole
- ½ cup olive oil, for sauce
- 2 tablespoon olive oil, for chicken
- salt, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- ¼ pound angel hair pasta, broken in halfspaghettisame weightpasta
longer cooking time
- 1 whole chicken breast
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- grated Parmesan cheese, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Break angel hair pasta in half and place in microwave-safe tray, cover completely with water.
- 2
Microwave at 1000W for 2 minutes, then stir with fork to prevent sticking.
- 3
Continue microwaving 5-6 minutes until softened, stirring halfway through.
- 4
Drain pasta and transfer to large bowl.
- 5
Season chicken breast with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil.
- 6
Grill chicken 5 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165F (165°F).
- 7
Chop or slice grilled chicken as desired.
- 8
Combine grape tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and fresh basil in small bowl and stir well.
- 9
Heat tomato mixture 2-3 minutes until warmed through.
- 10
Add chicken and tomato basil sauce to pasta bowl and toss to combine.
- 11
Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Tips
Stir pasta twice during microwaving to ensure even cooking and prevent clumping, especially critical for thin angel hair.
Use a meat thermometer to verify 165F (74C) internal temperature for safe chicken, checking thickest part of breast.
Good to Know
Refrigerate in airtight container up to 3 days. Separate components if storing longer; tomato sauce keeps 4 days, pasta 2-3 days, chicken 3 days.
Cook pasta and chicken up to 2 days ahead. Prepare tomato basil mixture 1 day ahead. Assemble just before serving for best texture.
Serve warm immediately after assembly. Optional: serve at room temperature with chilled tomato sauce for lighter summer variation.
Common Mistakes
Don't skip stirring pasta during microwaving to avoid clumped, unevenly cooked noodles.
Don't grill chicken without checking temperature to avoid undercooked poultry.
Don't heat tomato sauce longer than 3 minutes to avoid breaking down basil and losing fresh flavor.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I cook the pasta on the stovetop instead of microwave?
Yes. Boil salted water in a pot, add broken pasta, and cook 6-8 minutes stirring occasionally until tender. Drain well. Stovetop cooking may yield slightly more even texture than microwave method.
What if I don't have a grill for the chicken?
Pan-sear chicken in a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat 5-6 minutes per side until 165F internal temperature. Or bake at 375F (190C) for 15-18 minutes. Both methods work equally well.
How long can I keep leftovers and can I freeze this dish?
Refrigerate combined dish up to 2 days; pasta texture degrades with longer storage. Freezing is not recommended as pasta becomes mushy and basil loses quality. Freeze components separately if needed.