Creamy One Pan Tuscan Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)
Comforting chicken pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and creamy sauce in one pan.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
02 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Pasta & Vegetables
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped, oil-packed preferred
08 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
09 - 8 oz penne or rigatoni, uncooked
10 - 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
→ Sauce
11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
# Directions:
01 - Season the chicken strips evenly with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
02 - In a large, deep skillet or sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and mostly cooked through, approximately 4–5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
03 - In the same pan, do not wipe clean. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add uncooked pasta and chicken broth to the pan. Stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
05 - Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan. Cover and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Lower the heat. Stir in heavy cream, spinach, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and spinach wilts. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Serve hot, garnishing with extra Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan, meaning less time scrubbing and more time relaxing.
- The sauce clings perfectly to the pasta, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor.
02 -
- Resist the urge to rinse the pasta starch, as it is the secret to a thick and glossy sauce.
- Keep an eye on the pan during the simmer step to ensure the liquid does not evaporate too quickly.
03 -
- If the sauce looks too thick, simply splash in a little more broth or water to loosen it up.
- Add the spinach at the very end to keep it bright green and not soggy.