This creamy dish is a delightful way to combine tender chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and a rich creamy sauce made with heavy cream and parmesan cheese. So get all the details below for my creamy Tuscan chicken pasta recipe.
Perfect for weeknight dinners, this recipe is simple yet packed with great flavors that the entire family will love.
Using ingredients like olive oil, chicken broth, and Italian seasoning, this dish comes together quickly in a large skillet. The creamy sauce, enhanced with garlic powder and red pepper flakes, coats the penne pasta beautifully, making it a family favorite that you can easily prepare in about 30 minutes.
And don’t worry!
If you prefer the ease and convenience of a one-pot Instant Pot version, I have included that below the main recipe!
Overview of Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
This creamy Tuscan chicken pasta is a delightful addition to any dinner rotation. Featuring tender chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and a rich creamy sauce, it’s a dish that brings comfort and flavor to the table.
The combination of heavy cream and parmesan cheese creates a luxurious creamy base that clings to the penne pasta, making each bite a satisfying experience. With simple ingredients like olive oil, chicken broth, and Italian seasoning, this recipe is straightforward and perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients That Shine
The star ingredients in this dish include bite-sized pieces of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh baby spinach. These elements come together to create a colorful and appetizing plate.
Cooking with a deep skillet allows for even heat distribution, ensuring the chicken cooks to golden brown perfection. The addition of garlic powder and red pepper flakes enhances the flavor of the sauce, making it a family favorite.
Cooking Process Made Simple
To start, cook the penne pasta in a large pot until it reaches al dente. This step is crucial for achieving the right texture in your creamy pasta dish.
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs, seasoned with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, and cook until they are golden brown. This process locks in the juices, ensuring tender chicken pieces in the final dish.
Creating the Creamy Sauce
Once the chicken is cooked, the next step involves making the creamy sauce. In the same skillet, combine chicken broth, heavy cream, and cream cheese, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Add the sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and fresh baby spinach, cooking until the spinach wilts. This mixture forms the heart of the creamy Tuscan sauce that envelops the pasta.
Bringing It All Together
After preparing the sauce, return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained penne pasta. Stir to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve the desired sauce consistency.
Adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes to suit your taste. This flexibility allows you to customize the flavor profile of your creamy Tuscan chicken pasta.
Serving Suggestions and Storage
Garnish your dish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped basil before serving. This adds a pop of color and enhances the overall flavor.
For those who enjoy leftovers, store any remaining pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It makes for a delicious meal the next day, as the flavors continue to meld together.
This creamy Tuscan chicken pasta is not just a meal; it’s a comforting experience that the entire family will love. Whether enjoyed fresh or as leftovers, it’s sure to become a staple in your cooking repertoire.
Easy Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
This creamy Tuscan chicken pasta features bite-sized pieces of chicken cooked to golden brown perfection, combined with fresh baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, and a creamy base that clings to the pasta. The recipe takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and serves 4 people.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: In a deep skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken pieces and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make Creamy Sauce: In the same skillet, add chicken broth, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and spinach, cooking until the spinach wilts.
- Combine: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and add the drained pasta. Stir to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired sauce consistency. Adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve: Garnish with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil before serving. Enjoy your creamy Tuscan chicken pasta in a bowl, perfect for the next day as leftovers!
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 4 servings
- Calories: 550kcal
- Fat: 30g
- Protein: 35g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
Instant Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
This creamy Tuscan chicken pasta is made easy in the Instant Pot with tender chicken, pasta cooked right in the sauce, and a rich, creamy base loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and parmesan. The recipe takes about 25 minutes total and serves 4 people.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Chicken: Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add olive oil and chicken pieces. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes (they don’t need to be fully cooked through). Press Cancel.
- Add Pasta and Liquids: Add pasta, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Stir to combine, making sure the pasta is mostly submerged in liquid.
- Pressure Cook: Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes. Once finished, allow a 5-minute natural release, then carefully quick release any remaining pressure.
- Make it Creamy: Open the lid and stir in cream cheese, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes. Stir until cream cheese melts and sauce becomes creamy.
- Finish with Spinach: Stir in baby spinach and let it wilt in the residual heat. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as desired.
- Serve: Garnish with extra parmesan cheese and fresh basil before serving. Enjoy!
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 4 servings
- Calories: 550kcal
- Fat: 30g
- Protein: 35g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
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