Creamy One-Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta
A quick and easy one-pot Tuscan chicken pasta recipe featuring a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, perfect for cozy dinners and busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil)
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
- 8 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme blend)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes. Pat dry and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook 4-5 minutes until golden on one side, then flip and cook 3-4 minutes until almost cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Stir constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits. Add dry pasta and stir gently to combine.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender.
- Stir in softened cream cheese until melted and creamy. Add fresh spinach and seared chicken back to the pan. Cook 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts and chicken is heated through.
- Stir in grated Parmesan cheese. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Add red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve hot, spooned onto plates.
Notes
If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth or water. If too thin, simmer uncovered to reduce. Stir pasta occasionally during simmering to prevent sticking. Use softened cream cheese to avoid lumps. For gluten-free, substitute pasta with gluten-free varieties or spiralized vegetables. Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts with adjusted cooking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3.5
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Tuscan chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, one-pot pasta, easy dinner, quick pasta recipe, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach pasta