Chicken & Spinach Alfredo
Chicken & Spinach Alfredo
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, as needed for cooking
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the Alfredo Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 cups fresh spinach
For Serving
- 12 ounces pasta, fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- 1
Cut the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. In a medium bowl, season the chicken with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Toss to ensure all pieces are evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
In the same pan (do not clean it, as the fond adds flavor), reduce the heat to medium. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Pour in 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Stir well to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 4 min
- 5
Once the sauce is simmering, add 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir continuously with a whisk or spoon until the cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add 2 cups of fresh spinach to the sauce. Stir until the spinach wilts, which should take about 1-2 minutes. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and mix it into the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Add your choice of cooked pasta (fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni) to the pan with the sauce and chicken. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy Alfredo sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Serve hot immediately. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chicken & Spinach Alfredo
For the Chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, as needed for cooking
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the Alfredo Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 cups fresh spinach
For Serving
- 12 ounces pasta, fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- 1
Cut the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. In a medium bowl, season the chicken with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Toss to ensure all pieces are evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
In the same pan (do not clean it, as the fond adds flavor), reduce the heat to medium. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Pour in 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Stir well to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 4 min - 5
Once the sauce is simmering, add 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir continuously with a whisk or spoon until the cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add 2 cups of fresh spinach to the sauce. Stir until the spinach wilts, which should take about 1-2 minutes. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and mix it into the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Add your choice of cooked pasta (fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni) to the pan with the sauce and chicken. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy Alfredo sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Serve hot immediately. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.