Creamy Spinach Chicken Pasta with Garlic
Make this rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a creamy garlic sauce. It is a satisfying meal for any night.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound pasta (fettuccine or penne recommended)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. 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.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the white wine or broth and let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook until the sauce slightly thickens, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water.
- Add the spinach to the sauce and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the creamy sauce.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use chicken broth instead of white wine.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a slightly lighter sauce, but the texture will be less thick.
- If you prefer a stronger garlic flavor, add one extra clove of garlic.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 40
- Cholesterol: 150