mozzarella cheese sauce

"Chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and penne pasta in a creamy mozzarella cheese sauce seasoned with basil, crushed red pepper flakes." JuliasAlbum.com

Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 4 oz sun-dried tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb chicken breast tenderloins , sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 cup half and half (or use 1/2 cup heavy cream + 1/2 cup milk)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese , shredded (do not use fresh Mozzarella, use pre-shredded Mozzarella)
• 8 oz penne pasta (for gluten free, use gluten free brown rice pasta)
• 1 tablespoon basil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water or more
• 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes (drained from oil) in 2 tablespoons of olive oil (reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes jar) for 1 minute on medium heat until the garlic is fragrant. 
2. Remove the sun-dried tomatoes from the skillet, leaving the olive oil.   
3. Add sliced chicken (salted and lightly covered in paprika for color) and cook on high heat for 1 minute on each side. Remove from heat.