Creamy One-Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta
A quick and easy one-pot recipe featuring tender chicken, creamy sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach, perfect for comforting 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
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil preferred)
- 3 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces uncooked penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (blend of oregano, basil, thyme)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or wide pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and sear for 4-5 minutes until golden brown but not fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
- Add chicken broth and heavy cream to the pot. Stir to combine, then add uncooked pasta. Bring to a simmer uncovered and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- When pasta is almost tender but still al dente, return chicken to the pot and add fresh spinach. Fold gently and cook for another 3-4 minutes until chicken is cooked through and spinach is wilted.
- Remove from heat and stir in grated Parmesan cheese. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Let sauce thicken slightly while resting.
- Serve warm, optionally garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh basil.
Notes
If sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth or cream to loosen. Do not overcrowd the pan when searing chicken; cook in batches if needed. Use room temperature chicken for even cooking. Stir pasta occasionally to prevent sticking. Grate Parmesan fresh for best creaminess. Variations include using zucchini noodles for low-carb, mushrooms for vegetarian, and coconut cream with nutritional yeast for dairy-free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe (a
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one-pot, creamy chicken pasta, Tuscan chicken, comfort food, easy dinner, weeknight meal, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Parmesan