Description
Indulgent Tuscan chicken pasta promises a culinary journey through Italian-inspired flavors, blending tender chicken with rich, velvety sauce. Creamy, herb-infused ingredients meld perfectly, creating a comforting meal you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 pounds (0.9 kg) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
Pasta and Cheese:
- 8 ounces (227 grams) penne pasta, uncooked
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups milk
- 3 cups baby spinach
Instructions
- Sear the chicken with salt and pepper in olive oil over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into bite-sized pieces.
- In the same pot, melt butter and sauté minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning until aromatic, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Pour cream, milk, and Parmesan cheese into the pot, then add penne pasta. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta reaches al dente texture.
- Reintroduce the sliced chicken into the creamy pasta mixture, then gently fold in fresh spinach leaves. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until spinach wilts and chicken is thoroughly heated.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Browning Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure a golden, crispy exterior that locks in maximum flavor.
- Creamy Sauce Control Adjust milk and cream ratios for desired thickness; less liquid creates a richer, more concentrated sauce.
- Spinach Swap Experiment with alternative greens like kale or arugula for different nutritional profiles and taste variations.
- Make-Ahead Magic Prepare the dish in advance and reheat gently, adding a splash of milk to restore sauce consistency and prevent drying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 669
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 257mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 48g
- Cholesterol: 155mg