This Pasta with Chicken, Caramelized Onions and Balsamic is one delicious meal. So.Gosh.Dang.Good!
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What’s in Pasta with Chicken, Caramelized Onions and Balsamic?
Well, from the title I bet you can guess that this recipe calls for pasta, caramelized onions, chicken and balsamic. But there are also some surprises, walnuts, pomegranate seeds and baby arugula! Then it’s finished, garnish with parsley and parmesan. So pretty!

Those Caramelized Onions Though…
Look right in front of the chicken breast, those are caramelized onions and along with the balsamic vinegar they bring the ‘sweet’ to this recipe! The chicken breasts and parmesan bring the savory and when you toss in sea salt and red pepper flakes, it’s a downright magical combination of flavors! Ok that’s it, I can’t take it anymore, I am pulling the pasta out of the fridge and eating my portion. My husband can eat his when he gets home.

MAKING THIS MEAL GLUTEN FREE AND JUST AS GOOD!
If you live without gluten you don’t have to miss out on exceptional pasta! Jovial Foods makes the best gluten free pasta around. I am lucky enough to live by a store that carries it, but if you aren’t you can order it here!

The Recipe: Pasta with Chicken, Caramelized Onions and Balsamic
Tips and what you need: You will need a stock pot, a good knife and a quality balsamic vinegar.
Pasta with Chicken, Caramelized Onions and Balsamic
Ingredients
Tips: this recipe has a few things going on at the same time. Have all ingredients out on the counter before starting. Then just follow the directions!
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 16 ounces spaghetti
- 1 small yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1-2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, separated
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup chopped raw walnuts
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cups baby arugula (baby spinach works great too)
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds (optional)
Instructions
You Are going to have one pot, and two pans going for this recipe. If you have trouble multitasking, take a deep breath. I made the instructions so you do one thing at a time. But you will have to set timers to remember your pasta and onions.
- Place a large pot filled with salted water on high heat, cover and bring to a boil (cook pasta to package instructions and save a 1/4 cup of pasta water before straining)
While waiting start chicken breasts.
- Place a medium sized pan on medium/high heat for two minutes. Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Add enough olive oil to thoroughly coat the bottom of pan. Wait 1 minute, allowing oil to get hot. Place breasts in pan and sear for five minutes, flip chicken, add one cup of water to pan, cover with lid, and cook for 3-4 more minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cook in the hot pan for 15 more minutes with lid on. Do not lift lid! The heat needs to stay in the pan for the chicken to cook through.
- Peel and slice onion, chop parsley, grate cheese, chop garlic , chop walnuts and set aside
- In a separate LARGE pan (pan needs to be big enough to fit cooked pasta:
- Place a 1-2 tablespoons of oil in pan. Heat on medium heat. When oil shimmers, add onions. Stir occasionally for about 15 minutes (the key to caramelized onions is patience, keep the heat at medium and resist the temptation to cook them faster)
- When onions have reduced in size by half, remove from heat and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and add garlic.Stir and set aside.
- When chicken and pasta are done, save a 1/4 cup pasta water and strain pasta (do not rinse) place in pan with onions, add 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, toss with herbs, nuts and arugula. Season with sea salt and pepper, toss again. If needed drizzle in ome of that pasta water, you may or may not need it.
- To plate: divide pasta onto four plates. Slice chicken breasts on the diagonal and place on top of pasta
- Sprinkle with parsley, parmesan and pomegranate seeds.. Serve.
MAY I PLEASE ASK A FAVOR?
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You had me at caramelized onions! Goes so well with chicken and balsamic 😉
Haha! I love them too!
I’d like to try this with some zoodles!!! Simple but totally flavorful ingredients!!
Yes it would probably be great!
Linda this looks so good! My family would devour this so fast. LOVE all of these flavors! Those onions – swoon!
Thanks Emily! It’s a yummy dish for sure!
Yes, I’ll eat anything with caramelized onions on it! Looks so comforting and delicious.
That looks like one mighty fine plate of pasta – I would find it so hard to resist too!
This looks fantastic! and I also think it would be good with zoodles!
The photos of how to cut a chicken breast in half are so helpful. Yes, a whole breast is waaayy too much food! Lovely recipe!
SO pretty and colorful! I could go for a big bowl of this tonight!
So tempting, you couldn’t resist! Who says dinner can’t be at 4pm!
I love everything with caramelized onions! This looks delicious! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Thanks Christine. I agree <3
I can never say no to pasta, and this looks so beautiful! Love the flavours going on here and it sounds really straightforward to make. Thanks for sharing!
Caramelized onions are like having a magic wand for infusing savory flavor and works so well with chicken. Your recipe is simple and delicious, and we could all use more of that!
I completely agree! They are like candy!
30 minutes for the whole dish-oh, timing is so important for busy moms like me, thank you!
So easy, yet so delicious! This looks great!
This does look good! It is hard not to overeat when preparing food for blog posts, isn’t it!
Yes. It’s shocking that I have not gained weight this month in particular:)
Caramelized onions are awesome on just about everything, so I was hooked right there 😉 But this whole dish is really lovely, and so colorful!