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Home » Course » Quick and Easy

Quick and Easy

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Published: January 10, 2021   |   Updated: August 29, 2022   |   Comment

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Creamy Tuscan chicken pasta served on a white plate.
A closeup of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and chicken in creamy Tuscan chicken pasta.
An artistic shot of two plates of creamy Tuscan chicken pasta with utensils, a dish towel and salt and pepper shakers.

This deliciously creamy Tuscan chicken pasta with fresh flavors of sun-dried tomatoes and spinach delivers restaurant-quality comfort food in under 30 minutes.

Creamy Tuscan chicken pasta served on a white plate.

Today we’ll be making a creamy Tuscan chicken pasta bursting with flavors of the Mediterranean; with seared chicken breasts cut into thick slices in the pasta of your choice cozying up in a rich, creamy and decadent cream cheese and Parmesan sauce peppered with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach.

It only took me less than 30 minutes to get it finished from start to finish and should yield at least 6 hearty servings. So if you’re in the mood for easy-to-make comfort food that should last you a couple of days, try this one out. Let’s get started.

A closeup of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and chicken in creamy Tuscan chicken pasta.

CREAMY TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE TIPS

Pasta – The recipe uses penne pasta but you can try other tube-type pasta or even spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, angel hair, or bow-tie pasta. The choice of pasta will not make or break the recipe so feel free to use your favorite.

Chicken –  I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You’ll know when the chicken is fully cooked when the meat turns white and when the juices run clear when you cut into it. An easier way would be to invest in an instant-read meat thermometer and to cook until it reads 165 degrees F.

Sun-dried tomatoes –  I used julienne cut California sun-dried tomatoes in oil to make the chopping a whole lot easier and to use some of the oil while searing the chicken to give it a hint of sun-dried tomato flavor.

Spinach – I used fresh baby spinach which looks like a whole lot of bulk when you first add it to the pot. Don’t worry, it will cook down quickly. You can also use frozen chopped spinach as long as you cook it according to the packet instructions and drain any excess liquid before adding it to the pot. If you don’t like spinach, you can sub it with kale.

An artistic shot of two plates of creamy Tuscan chicken pasta with utensils, a dish towel and salt and pepper shakers.

Cream sauce – When making the cream sauce, it’s easier to buy a block of cream cheese and cut them into cubes so they can melt quicker. I also used freshly grated Parmesan cheese as opposed to the pre-shredded ones you can buy in grocery stores because the preservatives in them tend to make them harder to melt and usually results in a lumpier sauce.

For this recipe, any block of Parmesan will do and a microplane or box grater. The sauce is a very, thick cheese sauce. If you prefer it a little more saucy, reserve 1 cup of pasta sauce and add it in until it reaches your desired consistency.

Onions and garlic – For simplicity’s sake, I used onion and garlic powder but you can substitute it with minced fresh yellow onions and garlic. Just sauté them in the beginning before the sun-dried tomatoes.

Reheating leftovers – When reheating leftovers from the fridge, add some milk to the pasta before microwaving it to make it saucy again.

A closeup of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and chicken in creamy Tuscan chicken pasta.

And that’s about it. If you’re a vegetarian or just don’t like chicken, I have a meatless and slightly lighter creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach pasta. For other pasta recipe ideas, there’s also spinach and three cheese manicotti, tortellini Alfredo spinach casserole, chicken Alfredo pasta bake and spinach and artichoke ravioli bake.

Happy eating and enjoy this comforting recipe. Let me know how you liked it, what substitutions you made and what you paired it with in the comments below!

MORE CREAMY RECIPES TO TRY

  • Creamy Garlic Tuscan Shrimp
  • Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta
  • Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Pasta
  • Creamy Salmon Pasta with Spinach
  • Creamy Sausage Pasta

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Creamy Tuscan chicken pasta served on a white plate.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta


  • Author: The Cooking Jar
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
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Description

This deliciously creamy Tuscan chicken pasta with fresh flavors of sun-dried tomatoes and spinach delivers restaurant-quality comfort food in under 30 minutes.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 5 oz. fresh baby spinach/fresh baby kale
  • 8 oz. sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 lb. penne/ziti/rigatoni pasta
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
  3. Over medium-high heat in a dutch oven, add butter and 1 teaspoon of sun-dried tomato oil.
  4. Sear the chicken until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side depending on thickness. Cook until the chicken’s internal temperature reads 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer or the chicken is no longer pink.
  5. Remove chicken and cut it into thick slices.
  6. Meanwhile, add spinach/kale and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pot and sauté until the spinach cooks down.
  7. Reduce to medium-low heat and add cream cheese, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese melts into a smooth sauce.
  8. Add cooked pasta, sliced chicken, and season with onion powder, garlic powder, basil, and the remaining teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Stir to mix and if needed, season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Dish and serve hot.
  10. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Reheating tip – Add some milk when reheating to smooth out the sauce again.
  • Scroll up to RECIPE TIPS for more useful tips, suggestions and ingredient substitutions.
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below or share a photo of the recipe on Instagram by tagging @cookingjar

posted in: Chicken, Main Dishes, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Stovetop

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