Creamy One Pan Tuscan Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)
Flavor-packed 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 (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Season the chicken strips 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 (about 4–5 minutes). Transfer to a plate.
03 - In the same pan (do not wipe), add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add uncooked pasta and chicken broth. Stir, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
05 - Return the chicken (and any 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 as needed.
07 - Serve hot, garnishing with extra Parmesan if desired.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
- It turns pasta night into a fancy meal with barely any cleanup.
- The sauce clings to every bite because the pasta cooks right in it.
02 -
- Do not rinse the pasta before adding it to the pan, the starch is needed for thickness.
- Keep an eye on the liquid level so the pasta does not dry out before it is tender.
03 -
- Use tongs to toss the pasta frequently while it simmers to prevent sticking.
- If the sauce gets too thick, splash in a little more broth to loosen it up.