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Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta: 15-Min Easy Dinner

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A quick and comforting weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts in a rich, garlicky sun-dried tomato cream sauce tossed with fettuccine. This recipe balances speed and soul, delivering restaurant-quality flavor in under 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 8 oz fettuccine or pappardelle pasta
  • 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained (reserve 1 tbsp oil)
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water.
  3. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F). Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Add minced garlic and remaining Italian seasoning; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up brown bits. Simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Add heavy cream and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until sauce begins to thicken.
  7. Add cooked pasta to the sauce. Toss to combine. If too thick, add reserved pasta water. Add spinach and stir until wilted (1 minute).
  8. Return sliced chicken to the pan to warm through. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.
  9. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and fresh basil if desired.

Notes

For dairy-free, swap heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk. For gluten-free, use gluten-free fettuccine. If the sauce breaks, add a splash of cold water and whisk vigorously. Do not overcrowd the pan when searing chicken to ensure proper browning.

Nutrition

Keywords: Tuscan chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meals, comfort food, Italian recipe, 15 minute dinner

Find it online: https://milacook.com/creamy-tuscan-chicken-pasta-15-min-easy-dinner/