Description
This Tuscan Garlic Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful one-pan dish featuring tender diced chicken, penne pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach in a rich parmesan and garlic cream sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a perfect comforting meal for busy weeknights that combines Italian-inspired flavors with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Main Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 cup sun dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 cup baby spinach
Dairy & Cream Sauce
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 2/3 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
Liquids & Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, seasoning it with salt and black pepper. Stir and cook the chicken until it is no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a large plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Cook the Pasta: While the chicken cooks, prepare the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, then cover and set it aside.
- Prepare the Cream Sauce: Wipe the skillet clean, then add the heavy cream, chicken broth, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and grated parmesan cheese. Whisk the mixture over medium heat to combine.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the all-purpose flour and water to create a slurry. Pour this slurry into the cream sauce and continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens.
- Combine Everything: Add the sun dried tomatoes, baby spinach, and cooked chicken to the thickened sauce. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Next, add the cooked pasta and gently toss everything together until evenly mixed.
- Serve: Serve the Tuscan Garlic Chicken Pasta immediately while warm and enjoy your creamy, flavorful meal!
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make the dish gluten-free.
- You can substitute chicken breast with chicken thighs for a juicier texture.
- Adjust the garlic and Italian seasoning quantities according to your taste preferences.
- Make sure to cook the pasta al dente as it will finish cooking slightly when mixed in sauce.
