Description
Creamy Tuscan chicken pasta brings Italian countryside flavors right to your dinner table. Rich herbs, tender chicken, and silky sauce blend perfectly, delivering a comforting meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 chicken cutlets or 2 chicken breasts, halved
Spices and Herbs:
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley or oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Sauce Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) rigatoni pasta
- 4 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons flour mixed with 1/2 cup water
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare a fragrant spice blend, thoroughly massaging it into each chicken cutlet to ensure complete coverage.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, searing chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until a rich golden crust forms. Transfer chicken to a plate.
- Reduce heat and melt butter, gently sautéing minced garlic until aromatic. Introduce chopped tomatoes, allowing them to soften and release their natural juices for 8-10 minutes.
- Incorporate tomato paste and heavy cream, creating a velvety sauce. If consistency requires adjustment, whisk a flour slurry and fold in off the heat to achieve desired thickness.
- Simultaneously, boil rigatoni in salted water until perfectly al dente. Quickly rinse pasta to halt cooking and prevent sticking.
- Fold fresh spinach into the creamy sauce, allowing it to wilt gently. Introduce cooked pasta, tossing to coat evenly with the luxurious sauce.
- Slice the seared chicken and arrange atop the pasta, garnishing with fresh herbs for a vibrant finish. Serve immediately while sauce remains warm and silky.
Notes
- Create a more intense flavor profile by letting the spice rub sit on chicken for 15-30 minutes before cooking to allow deeper penetration.
- Swap chicken for tofu or white fish to make this recipe vegetarian or seafood-friendly, ensuring similar cooking techniques.
- Use coconut milk as a dairy-free alternative that maintains the rich, creamy texture without compromising taste.
- Toast pine nuts or add sun-dried tomatoes for extra crunch and Mediterranean depth, elevating the overall dish complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 1050
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 64 g
- Saturated Fat: 35 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 88 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg