Description
Creamy spinach artichoke chicken pasta brings Italian-inspired comfort straight to your dinner table. Rich parmesan sauce and tender chicken mingle with hearty artichokes and silky spinach, creating a luxurious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 lb (680 grams) chicken breasts
Dairy:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1.5 cups (170 grams) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables and Pasta:
- 8 oz (226 grams) penne pasta
- 14 oz (397 grams) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 8 oz (226 grams) spinach, frozen, thawed completely, and drained
Seasonings:
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Transform chicken breasts into thinner cutlets by carefully slicing horizontally to ensure even cooking and tender texture.
- Liberally season the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper, creating a flavorful foundation for the dish.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature until it shimmers with potential, signaling readiness for cooking.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust for approximately 5 minutes.
- Remove chicken from heat, covering to let residual warmth complete the cooking process and preserve moisture.
- After resting, slice the chicken into bite-sized morsels that will perfectly integrate with the pasta.
- Fill a large pot with water, bringing to a rolling boil to prepare the penne pasta.
- Cook pasta until it reaches the ideal al dente consistency, then drain thoroughly, preserving its slight resistance to the bite.
- Utilize the same skillet to create a luxurious sauce base by introducing heavy cream and bringing to a gentle boil.
- Incorporate shredded cheese, stirring continuously until it melts into a smooth, velvety mixture.
- Gradually introduce milk while reducing heat, creating a silky sauce that will coat the pasta beautifully.
- Gently fold the cooked penne into the creamy sauce, ensuring each pasta strand is elegantly embraced.
- Add chopped artichoke hearts and drained spinach, mixing to distribute the vibrant vegetables throughout the dish.
- Fine-tune the flavor profile with additional salt and pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Crown the creamy pasta with the prepared chicken pieces, creating a harmonious and appetizing final presentation.
Notes
- Elevate this dish by using freshly grated Parmesan for maximum flavor depth.
- Customize heat levels by adding red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper according to preference.
- Leftover pasta stores beautifully in sealed containers for 3-4 days, making meal prep a breeze.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 668
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 817 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 169 mg