Creamy One Pan Tuscan Chicken Pasta (Printable)
Comforting chicken pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and creamy sauce, all cooked in one pan.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
02 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Pasta & Vegetables
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped, oil-packed preferred
08 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
09 - 8 oz penne or rigatoni, uncooked
10 - 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
→ Sauce
11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional
# How-To:
01 - Season the chicken strips evenly with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 4–5 minutes until golden brown and mostly cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
03 - In the same pan, do not wipe it clean. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add uncooked pasta and chicken broth to the pan. Stir well, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
05 - Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan. Cover and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Lower the heat. Stir in heavy cream, spinach, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until sauce thickens and spinach wilts. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce clings to every bite of pasta, making each forkful feel indulgent.
- Cleaning up is a breeze since everything happens in a single skillet.
02 -
- Do not rinse the pasta after cooking or the sauce will not stick.
- Keep an eye on the liquid level toward the end to prevent scorching.
03 -
- Let the chicken rest on the plate while the pasta cooks to keep it juicy.
- Saving a splash of pasta water helps fix the consistency if the sauce gets too thick.