Description
A delightful dish that combines rich flavors with a hint of spice, featuring tender chicken, creamy sauce, and vibrant vegetables tossed with al dente penne pasta.
Ingredients
- Penne pasta: 12 oz (340 g)
- Chicken breast: 1 lb (450 g), diced
- Sun-dried tomatoes: 1/2 cup (about 75 g), chopped
- Fresh spinach: 4 cups (about 120 g), roughly chopped
- Garlic: 4 cloves, minced
- Heavy cream: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Parmesan cheese: 1 cup (about 100 g), grated
- Red pepper flakes: 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Salt and pepper: to taste
Instructions
- Season the diced chicken breast with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Lower the heat and stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until melted into a creamy sauce. Adjust the consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Add the cooked chicken and drained penne pasta to the skillet, tossing gently to coat in the sauce. Serve garnished with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy.
- Always reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce’s consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
- Experiment with spice levels to suit your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: spicy, Tuscan, chicken, pasta, recipe, Italian, creamy, one-pan