Description
This creamy chicken spinach pasta is a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s comforting and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne or fettuccine)
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Sauce
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain the pasta for later use.
- Heat oil and cook chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the sliced chicken with salt and pepper, then cook in the skillet until golden and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes.
- Add garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook spinach: Stir in the fresh spinach and cook until wilted, stirring regularly.
- Make cream sauce: Pour in the heavy cream, add grated Parmesan cheese, and sprinkle Italian seasoning. Simmer the mixture for 2–3 minutes until it slightly thickens.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to combine. Use the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve: Serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Substitute kale for spinach if preferred.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
