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Creamy Spinach Chicken Pasta with Garlic

Close-up of Creamy Spinach Chicken Pasta with Garlic featuring fettuccine, chunks of seasoned chicken, and wilted spinach in a rich white sauce.
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Make this rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a creamy garlic sauce. This recipe is simple enough for a weeknight meal.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound pasta (fettuccine or penne recommended)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 5 ounces fresh spinach
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
  2. Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Stir in heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes.
  7. Reduce heat to low. Stir in Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
  8. Add the fresh spinach to the sauce and stir until it wilts, about 2 minutes.
  9. Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated in the creamy sauce.
  10. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, use fresh grated Parmesan cheese instead of pre-shredded.
  • You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a slightly lighter sauce, but the texture will be less rich.
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic if you prefer a little heat.

Nutrition

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