Description
This Italian Chicken Pasta is a creamy, comforting dish featuring tender pieces of seasoned chicken, sautéed garlic and cherry tomatoes, fresh baby spinach, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta. It’s a quick and satisfying meal that brings the flavors of Italy right to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Meat
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups baby spinach
Dairy
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Pantry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 12 ounces penne or your favorite pasta
Optional Garnish
- Chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the pasta according to package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season Chicken: In a bowl, season the bite-sized chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to ensure they are flavorful.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the chicken is browned on the outside and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Tomatoes: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Then add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until they soften.
- Cook Spinach: Stir in the baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Make Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine Chicken and Pasta: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, then add the drained pasta. Toss everything together gently to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy sauce.
- Heat Through: Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the dish to heat through completely.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally garnish with chopped fresh basil for added aroma and freshness. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy Italian chicken pasta.
Notes
- You can use rotisserie chicken to save time and skip cooking the chicken from scratch.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or milk for the heavy cream to reduce calories and fat.
- Add red pepper flakes if you want to introduce a bit of heat and spice to the dish.
