Creamy Spinach Pasta with Chicken Dinner
A simple recipe for a satisfying pasta dish featuring tender chicken and a rich, creamy spinach sauce, perfect for a weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (fettuccine or penne)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, salt, and pepper. Cook until chicken is browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add fresh spinach to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach wilts down completely, about 3 minutes.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in heavy cream and bring the mixture back to a gentle simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese and nutmeg until the sauce is smooth.
- Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy spinach sauce.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- If you prefer, substitute frozen chopped spinach for fresh; thaw it first and squeeze out all excess water before adding it to the sauce.
- For a richer flavor, use Alfredo sauce instead of broth and cream, adjusting Parmesan cheese as needed.
- You can add sliced mushrooms when you sauté the garlic for extra texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 120