This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe combines golden brown chicken breast pieces, fresh baby spinach, sundried tomatoes, garlic, and fettucine pasta in a rich creamy garlic Parmesan Cheese sauce with Italian seasonings. Comfort food does not get much easier or more delicious than this.
In just a few easy steps you can surprise your family with this this amazing chicken recipe. It is an elegant enough dish for company yet easy enough for a weekday dinner. Enjoy this tasty dish with a simple garden salad, fresh fruit, or Cheese Garlic Bread.
How to make Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Start by cooking the chicken pieces in a little olive oil over medium heat. Once browned and cooked through plate the chicken. Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to boil.
Now add a little more olive oil to the skillet over low heat. Add the garlic, oregano, parsley, basil, marjoram, and red pepper flakes cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Raise the heat to medium low and add the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream. Let it simmer and reduce for about 8 minutes stirring frequently. While it is simmering cook the pasta al dente and drain well.
Reduce the heat as low as it goes and slowly add the parmesan cheese stirring to melt. Then add the spinach and continue cooking until wilted. Add the sundried tomatoes, cooked chicken, and cooked pasta stirring to warm.
Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe tips
- Cut your chicken in fairly thin uniform pieces as opposed to cubes so it cooks all the way through as it browns.
- Any medium pasta that holds sauce well will work. Think fettucine, rigatoni, penne, pappardelle, or rotini.
- Don’t throw all the pasta water down the drain. Reserve some for thinning the sauce. If you are in the habit of always forgetting this than simply put a large bowl under your colander. Store a small amount of pasta water in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for heating leftovers.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan Cheese for superior melting and the finest taste.
- Don’t boil the chicken broth and cream. Let it simmer and reduce for about 10 minutes stirring frequently.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Heat leftovers in the microwave at a reduced power stirring in a little of the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce if needed.
What are the best sundried tomatoes to use?
I personally like to use the julienne cut sundried tomatoes packed in oil. Drain the excess oil from the tomatoes and if they are small pieces chop them.
You can also use dry packed sundried tomatoes but you need to rehydrate them. Place them in a bowl and cover them with warm water and let them soak for a couple of hours. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels.
More pasta recipes you will love!
Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta with golden brown chicken, baby spinach, and sundried tomatoes in a creamy sauce with garlic and Parmesan. This dish will please all the pasta lovers in your life.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: main meal chicken
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ¼ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut in bite size pieces
- 12 ounces fettuccine pasta noodles
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅔ cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups baby spinach
- ⅔ cup sundried tomatoes (packed in oil but drained and chopped)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on both sides and cooked through; approximately 3 minutes each side. Plate the cooked chicken. Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Add remaining tablespoon olive oil to the skillet over low heat. Add the garlic, oregano, parsley, basil, marjoram, and red pepper flakes cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- Raise the heat to medium low and add the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream. Simmer and reduce for about 8 minutes stirring frequently.
- While it is simmering cook the pasta al dente (according to box directions) and drain well.
- Reduce the heat as low as it goes and slowly add the parmesan cheese stirring to melt. Add the spinach and continue cooking until wilted. Add the sundried tomatoes, cooked chicken, and cooked pasta stirring to warm. For best results serve promptly.
Notes
- Cut your chicken in fairly thin uniform pieces as opposed to cubes so it cooks all the way through as it browns.
- Any medium pasta that holds sauce well will work. Think fettucine, rigatoni, penne, pappardelle, or rotini.
- Don’t throw all the pasta water down the drain. Reserve some for thinning the sauce. If you are in the habit of always forgetting this than simply put a large bowl under your colander. Store a small amount of pasta water in a mason jar for heating leftovers.
- Use freshy grated Parmesan Cheese for superior melting and the finest taste.
- Don’t boil the chicken broth and cream. Let it simmer and reduce for about 10 minutes stirring frequently.
- Store leftover in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Heat leftovers in the microwave at a reduced power stirring in a little pasta water to thin the sauce if needed.
Keywords: chicken Tuscan pasta, creamy Tuscan chicken pasta, Tuscan chicken pasta recipe
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DARRAL
This looks very good ,,can it have a shrimp substitute ?
Beth Pierce
Yes you could substitute shrimp in this recipe. Just don’t overcook them. They only take 2-3 minutes to cook.
maya jensen
This was fantastic. I followed the directions pretty closely with the exception of using an Italian spice blend that had all of the herbs in it. It’s not for the faint of heart with all of that cream but its so good.
★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Maya! So glad that you like the pasta!
Dianna Gibson
Made this tonight for my my son’s Birthday. He has Celiacs Disease (can not eat wheat) and is also Allergic to dairy. I made this gluten and dairy free. I used gluten free egg noodles, plant based parmesan cheese and plant based heavy cream. Everyone loved it. We will be making this again. Thank you
Beth Pierce
Thanks Dianna! I am so glad that you were able to adapt it to your needs and wants. Thanks for the tips. The readers always appreciate great tips.
Melissa Cushing
I am loving this yummy looking pasta and I am pinning this post so that I can make this for my family. I love pasta and this looks delicious!
★★★★★
Jupiter Hadley
This pasta sounds really good for midweek! I love a good chicken pasta, thank you for sharing.
Yeah Lifestyle
This looks delicious! What a great idea of adding sun-dried tomatoes to the dish and pasta water as well. Something I am looking forward to make this week.
★★★★★
Tammy
Admittedly I love creamy pasta dishes but I don’t indulge in them often. So I decided to treat myself and boy was this delicious! Thanks for sharing this great recipe.
★★★★★
Rosey
Good tip on rehydrating the tomatoes. I like a good pasta dish.
Becky
This looks oh so good, like a taste of Italy at home! Thank you for the detailed recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure! Enjoy!
Rhian Westbury
This is exactly the kind of pasta dish I love, and the sort of thing I’d usually order from an italian restaurant. I’m a big fan of the creamy chicken sauces so sounds great x
Stephanie
My family loves chicken and pasta so when they are together it’s a perfect meal here. This didn’t last long when I made it and we had no leftovers!
★★★★★
Colleen
This pasta turned out so creamy and delicious. The whole family loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
ALison
You had me with the sundried tomatoes! The sauce is super creamy and flavorful!
★★★★★
Sharon
This Tuscan pasta is a go-to dish for when you want something hearty and full of flavor, but you don’t want to spend all night in the kitchen.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sharon! I agree!
Claudia Lamascolo
So flavorful and I just loved how juicy the chicken was will make this often it so easy!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Claudia! So happy that you liked it!
Shashi
This was so hearty and comforting to me. Such a fantastic dish – my mom would loved it too.
★★★★★
Juliane
Yahoo! My two favorites in one meal!! The whole family really enjoyed this. I just love the creamy sauce with spinach and sundried tomatoes. Thank you so much for this recipe!
★★★★★
Carrie Robinson
What a great pasta dish! I am loving all of the flavors happening here. 🙂
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Carrie! So glad that you liked it!
Gwynn
This recipe is so creamy and flavorful. My family loved it and it will be on our menu rotation for sure!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Gwynn! So glad that you liked it.
Lauren Michael Harris
One of my favorite dinner recipes. I love how creamy this dish is and the kids love it too so that’s a huge win!!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Lauren! So glad that you and the kids enjoyed it!
Tayler Ross
We had this pasta for dinner last night and OMG was it amazing! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Tayler!
Amanda
This is such a flavorful chicken dish! Everyone loved it.
★★★★★
Erin
This was amazingly delicious! Everyone in our house loved this!
Sandra
Yummy! This quickly became a favorite meal at my house! Thanks!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sandra! So glad that you liked it!
Catalina
Pasta is always a favorite in our house! This one was so creamy!
★★★★★
Beti
This was incredibly delicious! The perfect meal! Thanks for a great recipe.
★★★★★
katerina
Such a fabulous weeknight meal!! My family enjoyed this so much!
★★★★★