Creamy One-Pot Tuscan Garlic Chicken Pasta
A quick and easy one-pot pasta dish featuring tender chicken, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a creamy sauce that’s perfect for cozy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Tuscan, Italian
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil preferred)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts into ½ inch wide strips and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken strips and cook 4-5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same pan and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and stir for 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir in dry pasta, ensuring it is submerged. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Lower heat to medium-low, cover with lid, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente.
- Stir in fresh spinach and cooked chicken strips. Cook about 2 minutes until spinach wilts.
- Remove lid, stir in grated Parmesan cheese, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Let sit off heat for 2 minutes to thicken slightly, then serve warm.
Notes
If sauce is too thick, add a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen. If too thin, simmer uncovered to reduce. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Avoid overcrowding the pan when searing chicken for a good sear. Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-grated. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. Pasta alternatives like rigatoni or fusilli work well. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and freeze well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one-pot pasta, Tuscan chicken pasta, creamy garlic chicken, easy weeknight dinner, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach pasta