Creamy Spinach Chicken Pasta with Garlic
Make this rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a simple garlic cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 12 ounces pasta (fettuccine or penne recommended)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream and cubed cream cheese. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
- Add the fresh spinach to the sauce. Stir until the spinach wilts down, about 2 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning with the garlic.
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts if preferred.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor in this sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 140