Description
A delicious and creamy chicken pasta recipe that is easy to make and perfect for a comforting meal. This one-pan dinner is packed with flavor from tender chicken, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 oz penne or pasta of choice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Chicken:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta until al dente, then reserve ¼ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Cook the chicken: Season and cook the chicken in olive oil until browned and cooked through.
- Make the sauce: Add garlic, tomatoes, spinach, cream, and Parmesan to the skillet. Stir until creamy.
- Combine: Toss in the cooked pasta, adding reserved water if needed. Season and garnish before serving.
Notes
- You can swap spinach for kale or arugula, and use grilled chicken or rotisserie for quicker prep.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1½ cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
