Description
Creamy marry me chicken pasta weaves Italian-inspired magic into a quick weeknight dinner that promises culinary romance. Succulent chicken nestled among tender spinach and rich sauce guarantees you’ll fall head over heels for this irresistible meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Main Sauce Components:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)
Seasonings and Herbs:
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta and Greens:
- 8 ounces pasta (such as fettuccine or penne)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
- Prepare chicken by seasoning thoroughly with salt and pepper, ensuring even coverage on both surfaces.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature, cooking chicken breasts until golden and fully cooked, approximately 5-7 minutes per side.
- Transfer chicken to a separate plate, reserving skillet for sauce preparation.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium and melt butter, adding minced garlic and sautéing until aromatic.
- Pour heavy cream, chicken broth, sun-dried tomatoes, dried herbs, and red pepper flakes into skillet, creating a rich sauce.
- Simmer sauce for 5 minutes, stirring periodically until slightly thickened.
- Simultaneously, cook pasta in boiling water until perfectly al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Slice cooked chicken into uniform strips and return to simmering sauce.
- Incorporate grated Parmesan cheese and fresh spinach, cooking until spinach wilts and cheese melts completely.
- Gently fold pasta into sauce, ensuring every strand is evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
- Plate immediately, garnishing with additional Parmesan and fresh basil for enhanced flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts of even thickness to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help achieve a perfect golden-brown exterior with maximum flavor absorption.
- Allow sauce to simmer gently without boiling to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, creamy texture.
- Swap chicken with firm tofu, grilled portobello mushrooms, or plant-based chicken alternatives for a meat-free version.
- Use gluten-free pasta and verify that all ingredients like chicken broth are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 760
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 155 mg