Healthy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
This creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is packed with Italian flavors and tender chicken bites. Creamy, garlicky and so comforting, this pasta dish is perfect as a healthy weeknight dinner or as a quick lunch. It's ready in just 30 minutes and meal-prep friendly!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 10 oz (280 g) short pasta penne or rigatoni recommended
- 1 ½ cup (650 g) boneless chicken breast
- 1 ½ tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves finely minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2.5 oz (60 g) sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil (drained and chopped)
- 3 cups (120 g) baby spinach
- ¾ cup (180 ml) milk of choice
- ½ cup (120 g) cream cheese fat-reduced
- ⅓ cup (40 g) Parmesan cheese
- chili flakes optional for serving
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package direction until al dente. Once cooked, drain and set aside. Make sure you drizzle it with olive oil so that pasta won't stick together.
- Cut chicken breast into cubes and place in a bowl. Season chicken with ½ tablespoon of olive oil, finely minced garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
- Heat ½ tablespoon of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. When hot, add seasoned chicken and cook on both sides, until tender.
- Once the chicken is cooked, add to the skillet chopped sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and milk. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, until the spinach is wilted.
- Add to the skillet cream cheese and Parmesan cheese, then give it a good stir. Taste and adjust the sauce with more salt and pepper if necessary.
- Stir in the creamy chicken sauce the cooked pasta and the remaining olive oil.
- Serve warm with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and chili flakes on top, if you desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 10g