Description
This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a comforting one-pot meal combining tender chicken breasts, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and penne pasta in a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce infused with Italian seasoning. It's perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner bursting with Italian flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce and Pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained, roughly chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces penne pasta (uncooked)
- 3 cups baby spinach
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and freshly ground pepper on both sides. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or braiser over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 4 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and cut into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
- Make Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add the butter to the same pot. Melt the butter then add the minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Sauté until fragrant and aromatic, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cook Pasta in Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, milk, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese until combined. Add the uncooked penne pasta and stir well. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened.
- Finish Dish: Return the cut chicken pieces to the pot along with the baby spinach. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the spinach has wilted.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy Tuscan chicken pasta into bowls and serve warm immediately.
Notes
- This dish is best cooked and served immediately for the creamiest texture.
- Substitute penne with macaroni or your preferred pasta shape.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and milk, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can be used for added flavor; just reduce the olive oil slightly in the recipe.
- You can add chopped fresh basil or parsley for extra freshness before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 695 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 50 g
- Cholesterol: 181 mg
