Description
This Chicken Spinach Penne is a cozy, weeknight-friendly pasta that delivers restaurant-level comfort with minimal effort. Tender bites of seared chicken are tossed with al dente penne in a silky Parmesan cream sauce, then brightened with a generous handful of fresh spinach and basil. It’s rich yet balanced, comes together in about 30 minutes, and is perfect for both family dinners and easy entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water if needed to thin the sauce later.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced chicken, season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden on the edges and cooked through.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes, just until fragrant, being careful not to let it brown.
- Add the fresh baby spinach to the skillet. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, tossing often, until the spinach is just wilted.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add the crushed red pepper flakes, if using. If the sauce seems too thick, stir in a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen.
- Add the cooked penne to the skillet and toss well to coat every piece of pasta with the creamy spinach and chicken sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve the chicken spinach penne warm, garnished with torn or sliced fresh basil leaves just before serving.
Notes
- For best flavor, grate Parmesan from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese, which may not melt as smoothly.
- If reheating leftovers, loosen the sauce with a splash of cream, milk, or water over low heat to restore creaminess.
- You can substitute half-and-half for a lighter sauce; just know it will be slightly less rich and may need a bit more cheese to thicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
Keywords: chicken spinach penne, creamy chicken pasta, spinach pasta, easy weeknight dinner, Parmesan cream sauce