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Creamy Spinach Pasta with Chicken Dinner

A tempting close-up of Creamy Spinach Pasta with Chicken Dinner featuring fettuccine, diced chicken, and wilted spinach in a white sauce.
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This recipe provides instructions for a satisfying weeknight dinner featuring pasta coated in a rich, creamy sauce with tender chicken and fresh spinach.

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
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 5 ounces fresh spinach
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and let it simmer for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  7. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  8. Add the fresh spinach to the sauce and stir until it wilts, about 2 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg, if using.
  9. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy sauce.
  10. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use Alfredo sauce as a base instead of making the cream sauce from scratch.
  • If you prefer, substitute frozen chopped spinach for fresh; thaw it first and squeeze out all excess water before adding.
  • You can add sautéed mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.

Nutrition

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