Print

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe Easy Garlic Spinach Dinner

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta - featured image
Print Recipe

A creamy, garlicky Tuscan chicken pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach, perfect for quick and comforting weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb / 450 g), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin recommended)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil)
  • 4 cups fresh spinach (about 120 g), roughly chopped
  • 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml)
  • ½ cup chicken broth (120 ml)
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 45 g)
  • 8 oz penne or favorite short pasta (225 g)
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • A handful fresh basil, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and ½ cup chicken broth. Stir well, scraping browned bits from the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  5. Add 4 cups chopped fresh spinach and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Return cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to coat in the creamy sauce. Add drained pasta and toss everything together. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually to desired consistency.
  7. Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the top. Toss gently.
  8. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Do not overcook spinach; it should just wilt to keep bright color and fresh flavor. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce without watering down flavors. Cook chicken in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding pan. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Simmer cream and broth gently to prevent curdling. Adjust seasoning after adding Parmesan. For dairy-free, swap heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition

Keywords: Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta, garlic spinach pasta, easy chicken pasta, Tuscan chicken recipe, creamy pasta dinner

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/creamy-tuscan-chicken-pasta-recipe-easy-garlic-spinach-dinner/