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This healthy chicken spinach pasta is the most delicious dish that you can make in just 15 minutes. With chicken and Parmesan, this easy spinach pasta is packed with protein and taste. Macro-friendly chicken pasta tonight!
When I first got into healthy eating, I would have the same meals everyday. Boiled vegetables, rice and chicken breast for lunch and dinner. But over time things have changed!
I’ve learnt that making healthy food taste delicious is incredibly easy… And quick! Like this healthy chicken spinach pasta, which is ready in just 15 minutes. It is perfect for a cozy weekday dinner or lunch that satisfies your pasta cravings without too many calories.
Ingredients
- Pasta: short pasta (I use farfalle), whole-grain and gluten-free if necessary.
- Chicken: boneless chicken breast.
- Vegetables: baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes.
- Olive oil: extra virgin olive oil has the best taste and most nutrients.
- Seasonings: garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and chili flakes.
- Parmesan cheese
What is the best pasta for spinach chicken?
This chicken spinach pasta can be prepared with the type of short pasta you like the most. My recommendations are penne, mezze penne, farfalle or orecchiette – for my recipe I used wholewheat farfalle.
And if you want to make healthy chicken spinach pasta, make sure that you opt for wholewheat pasta. Differently from normal pasta, unrefined wholewheat pasta is packed with fibers and nutrients. What is more, wholegrain products have a lower glycemic index and are better for your health.
How to make spinach pasta chicken
Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package direction until al dente. Once cooked, drain (reserve 2 tablespoons of pasta water for later) and set aside. Drizzle the pasta with olive oil so that it won’t stick together.
Cut chicken breast into cubes and place in a bowl. Season chicken with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, the finely minced garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
Heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. When hot, add seasoned chicken and cook though on both sides, until tender.
Once chicken is cooked, add to the skillet chopped sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and a couple tablespoons of pasta water. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, until the spinach is cooked.
Add to the skillet cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese and give it a good stir. Taste and adjust with more salt and pepper if it is necessary.
Serve this healthy chicken pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese more and chili flakes, if you desire.
How to store spinach pasta chicken
Let any leftover cool completely before storing. Once it is completely cooled, transfer leftover spinach pasta to an airtight food container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a pan, microwave or oven prior to serving.
Meal prepping
Although this spinach pasta recipe is already very quick, you may still be interested in meal prepping. To meal prep this healthy chicken spinach pasta, cook more servings all at once and then store in the fridge as described above.
Tips for the best chicken spinach pasta
If you want to bring your chicken spinach pasta to the next level, here are a couple of simple tips for you. Believe me, it will taste like a restaurant dish, but healthy and homemade!
- Do not overcook the pasta. Ideally, it should be al dente.
- Grill chicken with the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. This will give an incredible flavor to your spinach pasta.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes in garlic-flavored olive oil. Needless to say, your pasta will come out incredibly delicious… and garlicky!
- Don’t forget a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and some chili flakes on top of your pasta, before serving!
- Grate fresh Parmesan cheese, as it has much more taste than pre-grated cheese.
- Right before serving it, pop the pasta in the oven for a couple of minutes. Your spinach chicken pasta will come out so crispy and delicious!
More healthy pasta recipes
- Healthy Tuscan chicken pasta
- High protein pesto pasta with chicken
- High protein pasta salad with chicken
- Protein egg pasta salad
Healthy Chicken Spinach Pasta in 15 Minutes
Ingredients
- 280 grams (10 oz.) pasta (wholewheat)
- 650 grams (1 1/2 lb) boneless chicken breast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic clove (finely minced)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 50 grams (2 oz.) sun-dried tomatoes
- 200 grams (4 cup) baby spinach
- 2 tbsp pasta water
- 40 grams (1/3 cup) Parmesan cheese
- chili flakes
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package direction until al dente. Once cooked, drain (reserve 2 tbsp pasta water for later) and set aside (drizzle with olive oil so that pasta won’t stick together).
- Cut chicken breast into cubes and place in a bowl. Season chicken with 1/2 tbsp olive oil, finely minced garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
- Heat the remaining 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. When hot, add seasoned chicken and cook though on both sides, until tender.
- Once chicken is cooked, add to the skillet chopped sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and a couple tablespoons of pasta water. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, until spinach is cooked.
- Add to the skillet cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese and give it a good stir. Taste and adjust with more salt and pepper if necessary.
- Serve healthy chicken pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese more and chili flakes, if you desire.
Hey Matteo. I am making the spinach pasta with chicken and need to know if the sun dried tomatoes are packed in oil or the dry ones?
Hey Amy,
thank you for your comment. Regarding your question, feel free to use the sun dried tomatoes you prefer. My recommendation is to pick the one in oil. More taste!!
Have a great day,
Matteo