Description
Creamy sun-dried tomato chicken pasta brings Mediterranean flavors dancing across your plate with bold, tangy notes. Rich parmesan and herbed chicken create a luxurious dinner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein Ingredients:
- 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into pieces
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Pasta and Vegetable Ingredients:
- 8 ounces fusilli pasta
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup shallots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
Seasoning and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Sear chicken in hot skillet with seasoned oil, cooking for 6-8 minutes until fully cooked and golden. Transfer chicken to a separate plate.
- In the same skillet, gently sauté shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, and minced garlic for 2 minutes, releasing aromatic flavors.
- Pour broth into skillet, scraping up caramelized bits from bottom of pan to enhance sauce depth.
- Add pasta to skillet, cooking for 15-20 minutes at medium heat until reaching perfect al dente texture.
- During final minute of pasta cooking, fold in fresh spinach, allowing leaves to delicately wilt and integrate into dish.
- Reduce heat and incorporate cheeses and milk, stirring continuously until creating smooth, creamy sauce consistency.
- Return cooked chicken to skillet, warming through and ensuring complete integration with pasta and sauce.
- Garnish with freshly chopped basil leaves, providing bright, herbaceous finish to the complete meal.
Notes
- Swap chicken for tofu or tempeh to make this dish vegetarian-friendly and packed with plant-based protein.
- Use gluten-free pasta to transform the recipe for those with wheat sensitivities or celiac disease.
- Opt for low-fat cheese and milk alternatives to reduce overall calorie and fat content without sacrificing flavor.
- Enhance nutrition by adding extra vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers during the sauce preparation stage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg