Description
Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta is a rich, comforting dinner made with tender chicken, fresh spinach, and pasta tossed in a silky garlic cream sauce. This easy-to-make meal combines protein and greens with creamy Parmesan sauce, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that tastes like it came from a restaurant.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rotini)
- Salt, for boiling water
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season sliced chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook chicken for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Make Sauce: Add chicken broth and heavy cream to the skillet and let simmer for 3–4 minutes to thicken slightly. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add Spinach: Add fresh spinach to the sauce and cook until wilted, stirring to combine evenly.
- Combine Everything: Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together to coat in the sauce, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if the sauce needs loosening.
- Final Seasoning: Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired for a touch of heat. Serve the creamy chicken and spinach pasta warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to create a lighter sauce option.
- Add mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes along with the spinach for extra depth of flavor.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best texture and flavor in the sauce.
- Leftover pasta reheats well; add a splash of cream or milk when reheating to keep sauce creamy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
