Description
Creamy sun-dried tomato chicken pasta brings Italian-inspired comfort to dinner tables with rich, tangy flavors. Silky sauce, tender chicken, and perfectly al dente pasta create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 ounces low-fat cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 8 ounces uncooked fusilli or penne pasta
- ½ cup diced shallots
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 2 cups packed baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high temperature. Introduce chicken pieces, spreading them evenly across the cooking surface. Season generously with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Cook chicken thoroughly until golden and completely done, approximately 6-8 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate.
- Without cleaning the skillet, add additional olive oil if necessary. Sauté shallots, minced sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic until fragrant. Pour chicken broth into the pan, carefully scraping accumulated browned bits from the bottom to enhance flavor profile. Bring liquid to a rolling boil.
- Introduce uncooked pasta directly into the boiling broth mixture. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. During final cooking minute, fold fresh spinach into the pasta, allowing leaves to wilt and incorporate seamlessly.
- Incorporate cream cheese and Parmesan, stirring continuously until completely melted and creating a smooth, velvety sauce. Return cooked chicken to the skillet and pour milk, mixing thoroughly. Allow sauce to thicken and warm through for 3-5 minutes. Adjust seasoning according to taste preferences.
- Remove skillet from heat source. Garnish with freshly chopped basil and sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese over the top for enhanced presentation and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Prepping this dish feels like a culinary adventure, blending creamy textures with vibrant Mediterranean flavors.
- Chicken gets perfectly seasoned, creating a golden exterior that locks in juicy tenderness.
- Sun-dried tomatoes transform an ordinary pasta into a restaurant-worthy meal with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg