Description
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a rich, comforting one-skillet meal made with tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, and penne pasta tossed in a luscious garlic-Parmesan cream sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners!
Ingredients
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8 oz penne pasta (or ziti, rotini, ditalini)
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2 tbsp olive oil, divided
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1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
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1 tsp dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
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1 tsp salt (or to taste)
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1 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
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1 medium yellow onion, diced
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3–4 garlic cloves, minced
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½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, blotted and diced)
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1 tbsp tomato paste (optional but recommended)
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2 cups fresh baby spinach
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½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
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1½ cups reduced sodium chicken broth
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¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan (plus more for garnish)
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Optional: Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
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Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
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In a large skillet, heat 1–2 tbsp olive oil. Add chicken, season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes until golden. Set aside (it will finish cooking later).
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In the same pan, add more oil if needed. Sauté diced onion until soft, 4–5 minutes.
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Add garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
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Slowly pour in chicken broth and cream. Stir in Parmesan. Bring to a gentle simmer.
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Return chicken to the skillet and simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens.
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Add spinach and cooked pasta. Stir to combine and wilt spinach. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
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Adjust seasoning. Garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
You can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version.
Substitute sun-dried tomatoes with roasted red peppers if desired.
Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of broth or water.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg