Tuscan Chicken Pasta

The only thing better than our Creamy Tuscan Chicken is when the creamy Tuscan chicken is served over perfectly al dente rigatoni noodles. Paired with pasta, you really can’t beat it!

In just 30 minutes, you’ll enjoy the comforting flavors of earthy spinach, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and nutty parmesan combined in a creamy, savory sauce over chicken and pasta. If you thought these flavors were reserved for your favorite restaurant order, give this meal a whirl. It might just become one of your favorites, like it did ours!

How to Make Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

Process

1. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper and dredge in flour, shaking off any excess.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add coated chicken and sear for about 3 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.

3. Melt the remaining butter and add the onion and garlic. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onions just begin to cook down. Season with salt and pepper. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and continue to sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Stir cream and 1/3 cup pasta water into skillet and simmer until cream reduces slightly, about 4 minutes. Stir Parmesan into the cream mixture until smooth and creamy.

5. Add spinach to skillet and stir until spinach leaves have just wilted. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Stir chicken back into skillet and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.

7. Stir in pasta until completely combined (adding remaining pasta water, as needed). Season with more salt and pepper and top with basil leaves and or pepper flakes, if using. Serve.

Tips and Tricks to Make the Best Tuscan Chicken Pasta

• Fresh spinach leaves work well for this recipe, but you can also use fresh whole leaves that have been frozen. If using frozen chopped spinach, make sure to thaw and drain well, or it may make the sauce too thin and watery.
• Dice the chicken into uniform pieces so that it cooks evenly. When sautéing the chicken, try not to overcrowd the pan, leaving a small amount of space between each piece.
• Only cook the pasta until it’s just al dente. It will soak up some of the sauce, adding more tenderness to the pasta as it sits.
• Don’t toss out that pasta water! As the pasta boils, it adds starch to the water, which helps add extra creaminess to the sauce without making it too heavy with cream.

Variations

• Make it dairy free. Use almond milk instead of cream, swap the butter for dairy-free butter or olive oil, and dairy-free parmesan cheese.
• Vegetarian Tuscan Pasta. Instead of using chicken, enjoy the sauce with just pasta or substitute the chicken for tofu or white beans.
• Add vegetables. Saute sliced or diced mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, artichoke hearts, or asparagus with the onion and garlic to add extra flavor and nutrition to this dish.
• Switch up the cheese. Parmesan adds a delicious nutty flavor to this recipe, but you can also add a dollop of ricotta cheese for extra creaminess or goat cheese for a bit more tangy flavor.
• Play with spices and herbs. We top this pasta with fresh basil and crushed red pepper flakes, but you can play around with different flavors. Oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, smoked paprika, and chives are a few to try!

What to Serve with Tuscan Chicken Pasta

For a complete meal, serve this Tuscan pasta and chicken with:

• Garlic bread
• Grilled artichokes
• Roasted green beans
• Simple green salad
• Caprese salad
• Tomato, peach, and burrata plate

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