Description
Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish with tender chicken, fresh spinach, and juicy cherry tomatoes in a rich, savory sauce. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special meal.
Ingredients
8 oz (about 225g) pasta (penne or fusilli works well)
1 lb (450g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about ½ cup of the pasta water.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken pieces to the skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add the chopped spinach and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the spinach wilts and tomatoes soften.
- Pour in the heavy cream and add Italian seasoning, if using. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top, and toss to combine.
Notes
Feel free to add extra veggies like zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers for more flavor and texture.
For a spicier dish, add red pepper flakes to taste.
Swap the pasta shape for your favorite, such as spaghetti, rigatoni, or farfalle.
For a dairy-free version, use coconut cream or a plant-based cream alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
