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Creamy One-Pan Tuscan Chicken Pasta

creamy one-pan tuscan chicken pasta - featured image
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A quick and easy one-pan Tuscan chicken pasta with a creamy sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 8 oz penne or rigatoni pasta, uncooked
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed)
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Optional garnishes: fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • Optional garnishes: red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, then season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Work in batches if needed. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
  2. Lower the heat to medium, add a bit more oil if the pan looks dry, then add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring well to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer, then add the uncooked pasta in a single layer. Press the pasta down so it’s mostly submerged in the liquid. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring halfway through to prevent sticking.
  4. Once the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, stir the browned chicken pieces back into the pan. Add the fresh spinach leaves and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top. Stir gently until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts into the sauce.
  5. Taste for seasoning and add salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes if desired. Let the pasta rest off heat for a minute or two to thicken the sauce slightly. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil if desired.

Notes

Use chicken thighs for juicier meat. Stir halfway through cooking pasta to prevent sticking. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut or almond milk mixed with cashew cream and use dairy-free cheese or nutritional yeast. For gluten-free, swap pasta with gluten-free variety. Avoid freezing fully cooked pasta with cream sauce; freeze before adding spinach and cheese instead.

Nutrition

Keywords: Tuscan chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, one-pan pasta, easy weeknight dinner, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach pasta

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/creamy-one-pan-tuscan-chicken-pasta-recipe-for-easy-weeknight-dinners/