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Creamy Spinach Pasta with Chicken Dinner

Creamy Spinach Pasta with Chicken Dinner - Tasty
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A simple recipe for a satisfying weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a rich cream sauce tossed with pasta.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound pasta (fettuccine or penne recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 5 ounces fresh spinach
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set aside.
  2. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Whisk in the flour until combined with the skillet drippings. Cook for 1 minute.
  5. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until smooth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
  7. Stir in the nutmeg and fresh spinach. Cook until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta. Toss everything together to coat. If the sauce seems too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  9. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use Alfredo sauce instead of making the sauce from scratch by skipping steps 3 through 6 and adding 1 cup of prepared Alfredo sauce with the heavy cream in step 7.
  • You can substitute frozen spinach for fresh; thaw it first and squeeze out all excess water before adding it to the sauce.
  • Add 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms when you cook the chicken for extra vegetable content.

Nutrition

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