When I first presented this meal to my family, I honestly was not even sure if they would like it as much as my other dishes. I make pastas all the time, so my family has gotten pretty used to a certain taste when it comes down to this type of meal. Maybe I’ll make a chicken Alfredo pasta, pasta with red sauce, or even a simple pasta with butter and spinach. Whatever it is, my family has gotten used to a similar taste for all the pasta dishes I make. But just recently, I decided to spice things up a bit. This one, the Creamy Tuscan Chicken, pasta was a little different from my usual pasta dishes. As soon as I presented it to my mom after it was all done cooking, the first words out of her mouth were “Wow, this is probably my favorite pasta dish out of all the ones you make.” “Whew,” I thought to myself. “We have a winner!”
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Course: Main, Lunch, DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes20
minutesIngredients
- For the Pasta:
1 cup 1 penne pasta, cooked (reserve ½ cup pasta water for sauce)
- For the Chicken:
2 tablespoons 2 sun-dried tomato oil
2 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cubed
fresh chopped Italian herbs (I used a mix of rosemary, sage and thyme)
1 tablespoon 1 paprika
2 teaspoons 2 garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste
- For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon 1 unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups 1 1/2 heavy cream
1/2 cup 1/2 starchy pasta water
1/4 cup 1/4 grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup 1/4 sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup 1 baby spinach
2 teaspoons 2 lemon juice
Directions
- In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes, Italian herbs, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cook for 6-7 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165°F.
- Remove chicken from the pot and set aside.
- Next, make the sauce in the same pot over medium heat by adding butter, heavy cream, pasta water, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and lemon juice.
- Cook until spinach wilts to your liking.
- Add chicken and cooked pasta to the sauce. Stir to coat evenly.
- Serve and Enjoy!
That is why I want to share this recipe with you. It will make a great lunch or dinner dish for the entire family and your family will go back for seconds, thirds maybe even fourths depending on how much you make! This pasta has a special kick to it, thanks to the sun dried tomatoes and the different spices and seasonings I chose to use. That is why you want to make sure you do not leave any of these ingredients I listed out. If you do, you might not get the same special taste as I did when I made this delectable dish.
Growing up, pasta was almost always on the menu in my home. Whether it was for dinner or for lunch, you bet we were going to have it at least once a week! It was made very simply, so I really enjoyed experimenting with new ways to cook, even as a child. I would play around with seasonings, make a mess in the kitchen, clean up and start all over again. I even taught my sister how to better season her dishes as she was struggling to know what to use to spice up her recipes (especially her pastas). I guess all that hard work paid off years later because now I can satisfy my family’s palate any time!
For this recipe, add some spinach or kale for extra color and flavor and watch how easily everything just melts together and has your entire kitchen smelling like a restaurant you never want to leave! Pair this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta with a side of bread or a small salad, nothing too elegant, just something simple, or leave it out because you already have your greens in there thanks to the spinach! Trust me, once you make this recipe, there will be no turning back! Happy cooking! Happy eating!
