Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta – Easy One Pan Dinner Recipe
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a rich and comforting one-pan meal featuring tender chicken, penne pasta, fresh spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes simmered in a velvety cream sauce with parmesan cheese. This easy-to-make recipe delivers restaurant-quality Italian-inspired flavors perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts (about 450 g), sliced
- 250 g (8 oz) penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 240 ml (1 cup) heavy cream
- 120 ml (½ cup) chicken broth
- 50 g (½ cup) grated parmesan cheese
- 100 g (1 cup) fresh spinach
- 80 g (½ cup) sun-dried tomatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Optional Add-ins:
- Mushrooms
- Red pepper flakes
- Extra cheese for topping
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sliced chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same pan, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then add the sun-dried tomatoes and cook briefly to combine the flavors.
- Create Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring well to combine all ingredients and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cook Pasta: Add the penne pasta directly into the pan with the sauce. Let the pasta cook in the sauce, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed the flavors, about 12-15 minutes depending on pasta package instructions.
- Add Spinach & Cheese: Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the fresh spinach and grated parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts, creating a creamy sauce.
- Combine: Return the cooked chicken to the pan and mix everything thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated and heated through.
- Serve: Garnish with extra grated parmesan if desired, and serve the creamy Tuscan chicken pasta warm for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese to enhance the flavor and achieve a better sauce texture.
- Do not overcook the chicken to ensure it remains juicy and tender.
- Stir the pasta frequently while cooking to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
- Adjust the sauce consistency by adding extra chicken broth if the sauce becomes too thick.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently to preserve the creamy texture.
- Avoid freezing this dish as the cream sauce may separate upon thawing.
Keywords: Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta, one pan dinner, Italian pasta recipe, creamy chicken pasta, easy weeknight dinner
