Description
A creamy and spicy Tuscan chicken pasta dish featuring tender diced chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach in a rich Parmesan cream sauce, tossed with al dente penne pasta. This comforting one-pan skillet meal is perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Pasta
- 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, diced
Vegetables and Flavorings
- 1/2 cup (about 75 g) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 4 cups (about 120 g) fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy and Oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (about 100 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Season and cook chicken: Season the diced chicken breast with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Sauté garlic and sun-dried tomatoes: In the same skillet used for the chicken, sauté the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Wilt spinach: Add the chopped fresh spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Make the creamy sauce: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Cook gently, stirring, until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, adjust the consistency by adding some reserved pasta water.
- Toss pasta and chicken: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained penne pasta. Toss gently to coat everything evenly with the creamy sauce.
- Serve: Serve the pasta warm, garnished with fresh basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the level of spiciness.
- Save some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it gets too thick.
- For a lighter option, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- You can add fresh basil or parsley for extra flavor and garnish.
- If sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain before chopping.
