How to Make Tomato Chicken Pasta!
Make simple tomato chicken pasta by cooking pasta, preparing a mild tomato sauce, and combining cooked chicken with adult supervision to stay safe.
About this activity
Make simple tomato chicken pasta by cooking pasta, preparing a mild tomato sauce, and combining cooked chicken with adult supervision to stay safe.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.
- 2
Step 2
Ask an adult to help you with the cooking and to stay nearby.
- 3
Step 3
Gather all the materials and ingredients on the counter.
- 4
Step 4
With the adult, fill the pot with water and add a small pinch of salt.
- 5
Step 5
With the adult, place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil.
- 6
Step 6
Add the pasta to the boiling water and stir once to separate the noodles.
- 7
Step 7
Cook the pasta for the time shown on the pasta package.
- 8
Step 8
With the adult, drain the cooked pasta in the colander and then return the pasta to the pot.
- 9
Step 9
With the adult, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces on the cutting board.
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Step 10
With the adult, heat the frying pan over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil.
- 11
Step 11
Add the chicken pieces to the pan and cook them until no pink remains in the middle.
- 12
Step 12
Add the chopped garlic and the canned crushed tomatoes to the pan then season with a pinch of dried oregano salt and a little pepper and simmer for about 3 minutes.
- 13
Step 13
Mix the cooked pasta with the tomato chicken sauce in the pot and sprinkle grated cheese on top and share a photo of your finished creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you make tomato chicken pasta?
To make simple tomato chicken pasta, cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain. In a pan, sauté garlic and onion in olive oil, add canned or fresh tomatoes, simmer into a mild sauce, and season lightly. Separately, cook small pieces of chicken until fully done (165°F/74°C) with an adult. Combine pasta, chopped cooked chicken, and sauce, warm together briefly, and serve with grated cheese if desired.
What materials do I need to make tomato chicken pasta?
Youâll need pasta (any small shape), boneless chicken breasts or thighs, canned crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and optional cheese and herbs. Equipment: pot for boiling, frying pan, cutting board, sharp knife (adult use), colander, spatula, measuring spoons, and a meat thermometer. Always have an adult present to handle raw chicken, hot pots, and knives for safety.
What ages is this activity suitable for?
This activity suits different ages with adult support: toddlers (2â4) can help wash vegetables and stir a cold bowl; preschoolers (4â6) can mix sauce ingredients and set the table with close supervision; school-age children (7â12) can measure, stir hot sauce, and learn simple stove tasks when supervised; teens (13+) can cook most steps independently but should still follow safe handling for raw chicken and use a thermometer.
What safety tips should I follow when making tomato chicken pasta?
Always supervise children around heat and raw chicken. An adult should handle cutting raw chicken and any use of knives or stove. Use separate cutting boards and wash hands, utensils, and surfaces after touching raw meat to avoid cross-contamination. Cook chicken to 165°F (74°C) and check with a thermometer. Keep kids at a safe distance from boiling water and hot pans; give younger children prep tasks like measuring, stirring cooled sauce, or adding pre-cut ingredients.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of canned crushed tomatoes or dried oregano if they are hard to find?
If you don't have canned crushed tomatoes, blend fresh tomatoes or use tomato sauce, and substitute dried oregano with a pinch of Italian seasoning when you add the tomatoes and season the pan.
My pasta is sticking or clumping when I add it to boiling water â what should I do?
Make sure the pot has plenty of vigorously boiling water with the small pinch of salt called for, then stir the pasta right after adding it and again once or twice during the cooking time to keep the noodles separate.
How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or older kids?
For younger kids, let them wash hands, gather ingredients, stir cooked pasta, and sprinkle grated cheese while adults handle the boiling, draining, and cutting, and for older kids allow supervised cutting of the chicken and managing the frying pan per the 'ask an adult' steps.
How can we personalize or improve the tomato chicken pasta?
To enhance the dish, add chopped spinach, bell pepper, or mushrooms to the pan with the canned crushed tomatoes during the three-minute simmer, try different grated cheeses, or finish with fresh basil before sharing your photo on DIY.org.