Description
This creamy chicken and spinach pasta recipe is a quick, easy weeknight dinner that blends tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a velvety heavy‑cream sauce. Perfect for families seeking a comforting, high‑protein meal, it uses pantry staples and delivers restaurant‑style flavor in under 30 minutes. Ideal for meal‑prep, the dish is versatile, allowing variations like smoked beef or gluten‑free pasta, making it a go‑to favorite for busy households across the United States.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Cook pasta until al dente, reserve 1 cup pasta water, drain.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; add diced chicken, season, and brown until cooked through.
- Add minced garlic; sauté 1 minute.
- Stir in fresh spinach; cook until wilted.
- Pour heavy cream, bring to a gentle simmer; season with salt and pepper. Thin with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Add cooked pasta; toss to coat.
- Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan.
Notes
- For a lighter sauce
- substitute half the heavy cream with low‑fat milk. Add a pinch of nutmeg for extra warmth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: creamy chicken and spinach pasta, easy chicken pasta, quick spinach pasta, creamy chicken dinner, weeknight pasta recipe, chicken alfredo alternative, family dinner ideas, high protein pasta, 30 minute meals