Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 chicken breast, halved
- 1/2 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
For the Pasta
- 3 cups cooked pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- as needed salt, to taste
- as needed black pepper, to taste
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- as needed Parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Season the chicken breast halves with 1/2 tablespoon paprika, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Ensure both sides are evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min
- 2
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Add the seasoned chicken to the hot pan and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 165
- 4
Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set it aside on a cutting board to rest. Do not clean the pan, as the fond will add flavor to the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
In the same pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the 1 small diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens and becomes translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Add the 3 minced garlic cloves to the pan with the onion and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Stir in the 1 1/2 cups of halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften and release their juices.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and 1/3 cup of sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Cook for another minute, stirring to combine and allowing the tomato paste to deepen in color.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Season the mixture with 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon of paprika, and salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to incorporate the spices.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Pour in 3/4 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of pasta water. Mix thoroughly, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 2 minutes to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Add 2 cups of fresh spinach and 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the simmering sauce. Stir continuously until the spinach wilts down and the Parmesan cheese melts, creating a creamy and smooth sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Slice the cooked chicken breasts into desired pieces. Return the sliced chicken to the pan with the sauce and let it simmer briefly for about 1 minute to warm through and absorb some of the sauce's flavor.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
Add the 3 cups of cooked pasta to the pan. Toss everything gently until the pasta, chicken, and vegetables are thoroughly coated in the creamy Tuscan sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Serve the Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta warm, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy immediately!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
For the Chicken
- 1 chicken breast, halved
- 1/2 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
For the Pasta
- 3 cups cooked pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- as needed salt, to taste
- as needed black pepper, to taste
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- as needed Parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Season the chicken breast halves with 1/2 tablespoon paprika, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Ensure both sides are evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min - 2
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Add the seasoned chicken to the hot pan and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 165 - 4
Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set it aside on a cutting board to rest. Do not clean the pan, as the fond will add flavor to the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
In the same pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the 1 small diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens and becomes translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Add the 3 minced garlic cloves to the pan with the onion and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Stir in the 1 1/2 cups of halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften and release their juices.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and 1/3 cup of sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Cook for another minute, stirring to combine and allowing the tomato paste to deepen in color.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Season the mixture with 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon of paprika, and salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to incorporate the spices.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Pour in 3/4 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of pasta water. Mix thoroughly, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 2 minutes to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Add 2 cups of fresh spinach and 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the simmering sauce. Stir continuously until the spinach wilts down and the Parmesan cheese melts, creating a creamy and smooth sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Slice the cooked chicken breasts into desired pieces. Return the sliced chicken to the pan with the sauce and let it simmer briefly for about 1 minute to warm through and absorb some of the sauce's flavor.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
Add the 3 cups of cooked pasta to the pan. Toss everything gently until the pasta, chicken, and vegetables are thoroughly coated in the creamy Tuscan sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Serve the Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta warm, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy immediately!
⏱️ 1 min