Description
A quick and easy 20-minute weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts in a rich garlic cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, served over pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to ½ inch thickness)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped and drained
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 8 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Pound to ½ inch thickness.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F). Remove to a plate and tent with foil.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Pour in heavy cream, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer gently for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add fresh spinach and stir until wilted (about 1 minute). Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Slice the cooked chicken. Return chicken to the pan along with cooked pasta. Toss everything together to coat in the sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pound chicken breasts thin for even, quick cooking. Save pasta water to thin the sauce if needed. Do not overcook the chicken to avoid dryness. Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smooth sauce. Sun-dried tomatoes should be well-drained to prevent a greasy sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approx. 1 cup pasta
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: creamy tuscan chicken pasta, weeknight dinner, easy pasta recipe, one pan meal, chicken and spinach, 20 minute dinner