Description
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a comforting one-pot dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to perfection and combined with a rich, creamy sauce made from heavy cream, milk, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Penne pasta absorbs all the delicious flavors, and fresh baby spinach adds a nutritious touch, making this recipe perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper (freshly ground)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
Sauce
- 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 Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
Pasta and Vegetables
- 8 ounces penne (or macaroni, uncooked)
- 3 cups baby spinach
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and freshly ground pepper on both sides. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or braiser over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook them for about 4 minutes on each side until they are nicely browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet, cut into 1-inch pieces, and set aside.
- Make Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the same pot. Once melted, add the minced garlic, roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning. Sauté these ingredients until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning the garlic.
- Cook Pasta and Sauce: Pour in 1 cup heavy cream, 2 cups milk, and 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese melts and the mixture is smooth. Add uncooked penne pasta and stir to combine. Let everything simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente and has absorbed the creamy sauce.
- Finish Dish: Return the cooked chicken pieces back into the pot along with 3 cups of fresh baby spinach. Stir well and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, allowing the chicken to warm through and the spinach to wilt.
- Serve: Once everything is heated and combined, serve the creamy Tuscan chicken pasta warm. Enjoy this hearty and flavorful dish as a perfect dinner option.
Notes
- This recipe is designed as a one-pot meal, minimizing cleanup and making prep quick and easy.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and creamy texture.
- If you prefer, substitute penne with macaroni or another short pasta shape.
- Fresh baby spinach can be substituted with kale or Swiss chard for variation.
- To reduce calories, you can substitute half-and-half or whole milk for the heavy cream.
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
