Description
Creamy Chicken Spinach Penne combines tender seared chicken, fresh spinach, and penne pasta tossed in a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Quick, hearty, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups penne pasta
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream (or half & half for lighter)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Heat olive oil in a skillet, then sear chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked (165°F). Remove and let rest.
In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping up brown bits. Stir in cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
Whisk in Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and glossy.
Cook penne pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
Add pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in sauce. Slice chicken and return to the pan.
Stir in spinach until just wilted. Adjust seasoning with lemon zest or red pepper flakes. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
For a lighter version, swap cream with half & half.
Frozen spinach can be used—thaw and squeeze out moisture before adding.
Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop / Skillet
- Cuisine: American-Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: ~520 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg