Valentina's Corner
This creamy tuscan chicken pasta is the perfect meal if you’re looking for something that tastes luxurious but simple to make. Our easy tuscan chicken recipe is the ideal easy chicken, and what better way to elevate it than by making it as a delicious pasta dish?
Pasta can be so diverse, and this recipe takes the classic alfredo pasta and takes it to another level, just like our creamy cajun pasta and our jamaican-inspired rasta pasta!
This creamy tuscan pasta dish is so flavorful! However, the show’s true star is the sauce; robust sundried tomatoes add a depth of flavor you can’t replace. The pasta absorbs the rich sauce, making sure that this dish is flavorful with every bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Viral recipe. This recipe went viral for a reason: marry me chicken but in pasta form.
- Incredible flavors. This dish is saucy and flavorful, from the sundried tomatoes to the juicy chicken.
- Easy dinner. This recipe is simple, easy to follow, and ready in less 30-minutes.
Ingredients for Tuscan Chicken Pasta:
The ingredients for this pasta are simple, but the flavors meld together to make a rich pasta dish:
- Pasta – penne pasta or rigatoni are more often used, but any pasta would work!
- Skinless chicken breasts – halved and pounded to thin cutlets.
- Seasoning – homemade italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper.
- Sun-dried tomatoes – add an incredible flavor and texture to the sauce.
- Sauce – a heavy whipping cream base with chicken broth for depth of flavor.
- Cheese – parmesan cheese adds creaminess and great flavor.
- Spinach – wilts into the sauce to add some greens.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Protein: Don’t like chicken? This pasta would taste incredible with the substitution of shrimp and even salmon!
- Vegetables: Add some delicious mushrooms or even broccoli to this pasta.
- Bring the spice: If you like heat in our pasta, add some red pepper flakes or sriracha.
Look over our tuscan chicken recipe for all the expert tips on getting the juiciest chicken.
How to Make Tuscan Chicken Pasta
1 – In a pot, cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions and drain.
2 – Season the chicken on all sides. Add olive oil to a pan and sear on all sides until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken from the heat and cover to keep warm.
3 – To the same skillet, add butter, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 1 minute, scraping off the browned bits at the bottom of the pan.
Whisk in the heavy cream, milk, parmesan cheese, and seasonings. Turn the heat to low and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken.
4 – Add the spinach, chicken and cooked pasta to the pot and cook until the spinach is wilted and the chicken is reheated.
Serving Suggestions
- Pasta and salad: Pasta is best served with a refreshing salad. Our homemade Caesar salad would compliment the rich flavors of the pasta perfectly.
- Breadsticks: What is an italian dish without homemade breadsticks or italian bread? A side of bread is always included in the meal.
Recipe FAQs
Any pasta shape will work for this recipe: spaghetti, fettuccine, angel hair, fusilli, and rotini are all great kinds of pasta for the tuscan chicken.
Using chicken thighs will still work perfectly for this recipe.
Keep this dish light using half and half or whole milk instead of heavy cream. The final sauce won’t be as thick, but it will still be delicious.
You can also add flour to the half-and-half as a thickening agent.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Store leftovers of pasta in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store in an airtight container for maximum freshness.
- Reheat. Warm up the pasta on a skillet over medium heat until thoroughly reheated.
- Freeze. Freezing pasta is a great way to prolong the time you can store it! Place the cooled pasta in a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. Reheat: Thaw the frozen pasta in the refrigerator overnight and warm on a skillet until reheated.
More Pasta Recipes
If you enjoyed this tuscan chicken pasta recipe, be sure to try our other popular pasta dishes, here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this creamy tuscan chicken pasta recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 2 chicken breasts halved (1 ½ pounds)
- 1 tsp italian seasoning divided
- 1 tsp salt divided
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
sauce
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter divided
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained.
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 cup baby spinach
Instructions
- In a pot or Dutch oven, cook pasta al dente according to package instructions. Drain the water and add back to the pot to keep warm.
- Cut chicken breast in half lengthwise. Combine italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and season chicken on all sides.
- Add oil to a large skillet. Once hot, add chicken and cook over medium-high heat until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet, slice or cube it, and cover it to keep warm.
- Add the butter, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes in the same skillet and cook for 1 minute. With a wooden spoon, scrape off the browned bits at the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in the heavy cream, milk, parmesan cheese, italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Turn the heat to low and cook until the sauce starts to thicken.
- Add the spinach, cubed chicken, and pasta into the sauce and cook until the spinach is wilted and the chicken is reheated, about 1 minute.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
-
- Even cooking: For the chicken to cook evenly, it is important to slice it through the center and beat it to an even thickness.
- Healthier option: Substitute the heavy cream for half and half to achieve a lighter sauce.
- Storage: Store leftover pasta in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.