Description
Creamy chicken spinach pasta brings comfort and elegance to weeknight dinners, blending tender chicken, fresh spinach, and silky sauce. Home cooks will savor this quick, nourishing meal that delivers restaurant-quality flavors with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Pasta:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 pound (227 grams) mezzi rigatoni
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Liquid Components:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) half and half
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) butter
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) flour
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) softened cream cheese
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 3 cups (85 grams) packed baby spinach
Instructions
- Blend sauce components in a measuring cup, chopping chicken into uniform morsels and dusting with lemon pepper seasoning.
- Heat oil in skillet and sizzle chicken pieces for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Transfer chicken from pan.
- Deglaze pan with wine, allowing liquid to reduce and concentrate flavors. Introduce minced garlic, butter, and flour, stirring continuously until flour loses raw aroma.
- Incrementally pour prepared sauce mixture into pan, whisking smoothly. Incorporate cream cheese and Parmesan, gently melting until sauce becomes silky and cohesive.
- Add fresh spinach leaves to sauce, allowing them to wilt and soften. Splash with bright lemon juice, then fold in cooked pasta and reserved chicken. Warm thoroughly, ensuring all elements are heated evenly and well-integrated before serving.
Notes
- Enhance chicken tenderness by pounding pieces to uniform thickness before seasoning, ensuring even cooking and juicier meat.
- Swap white wine with chicken broth for alcohol-free version, maintaining rich flavor depth without compromising sauce consistency.
- Select fresh baby spinach for vibrant color and delicate texture, adding it just before serving to preserve nutrients and prevent wilting.
- Create dairy-free alternative by substituting cream cheese with cashew cream and using nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for similar creamy, tangy profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg