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Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

creamy tuscan chicken pasta - featured image
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A comforting and creamy chicken pasta dish featuring sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and a smooth cottage cheese-based sauce. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or elegant enough for guests.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound / 450g), thinly sliced or cubed
  • 8 ounces (225g) penne or your favorite short pasta
  • 1/3 cup (about 50g) sun-dried tomatoes, preferably packed in oil; drained and chopped
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup (120g) cottage cheese, blended smooth
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil (optional), chopped for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep the Ingredients (10 minutes): Slice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, roughly chop sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, dice onion, and mince garlic. Rinse pasta under cold water briefly to prevent sticking once cooked.
  2. Cook the Pasta (8-10 minutes): Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente (about 9 minutes). Drain and reserve 1/2 cup (120ml) pasta water.
  3. Sauté Chicken (6-8 minutes): Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Add chicken pieces, season with salt, pepper, and half the Italian seasoning. Cook until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. Sauté Aromatics (3-4 minutes): In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil. Cook onion until translucent (~2 minutes), then add garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant.
  5. Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Spinach (2-3 minutes): Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Cook until spinach wilts and mixture is heated through.
  6. Prepare Cream Sauce (5 minutes): Blend cottage cheese and heavy cream until smooth. Pour into skillet with veggies. Add Parmesan cheese and remaining Italian seasoning. Stir over low heat until sauce thickens slightly (3-4 minutes). Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  7. Combine Everything (2 minutes): Return cooked chicken to skillet and toss with sauce. Add cooked pasta and gently mix to coat evenly. Heat through for 1-2 minutes.
  8. Final Touches: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with freshly chopped basil before serving.

Notes

Blend the cottage cheese for a silky smooth sauce. Don’t overcook the chicken to keep it juicy. Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Add spinach last to keep its vibrant color. Low and slow heat helps prevent sauce curdling. For gluten-free, use chickpea or brown rice pasta. Dairy-free options include coconut cream and dairy-free cheese substitutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, Tuscan chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, easy chicken dinner, weeknight pasta, creamy pasta recipe

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/creamy-tuscan-chicken-pasta-recipe-easy-best-sun-dried-tomato-dish/