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, making it perfect for a cozy Italian-American meal.
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
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
sauce and vegetables
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat the skillet: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the chicken.
- Cook the chicken: Season the sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add them to the skillet and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes.
- Add garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet with the chicken and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Wilt the spinach: Stir fresh spinach into the skillet and cook until wilted, mixing it well with the chicken and garlic.
- Make the sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and add the grated Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Simmer the mixture for 2–3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
- Serve: Serve the creamy chicken spinach pasta immediately, topped 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 Cuisine
