This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is so deliciously flavored. Garlicky and cheesy, it’s easy to make and takes only 30 minutes.
If you love chicken pasta, you should try our cajun chicken pasta and serve it with this Foccacia bread.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta 30-minute dinner
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta looks as good as it tastes. And it only takes half an hour to make! This dish is perfect when you want to make something yummy, but don’t have a lot of time. The flavors come together so well, you’ll love the way the garlic, Parmesan, spinach, and sweet-tart sun-dried tomatoes taste. With a creamy sauce, penne pasta, and chicken, this Tuscan pasta is going to become a family favorite. And it’s even better when you pair it with a tasty spinach salad and some buttery bread and dipping oil.
What will I need to make the 30-minute pasta dish?
- Meat: Boneless skinless chicken tenders
- Vegetables: Fresh spinach, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes
- Pasta type: Penne pasta
- Sauce ingredients: Unsalted butter, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings.
How to Make Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Cook the chicken. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Pour the olive oil into a cast iron pan and cook the chicken over medium-high heat. Set aside.
- Cube the chicken. Once the chicken is cool, cut it into cubes.
- Make the sauce. Saute the butter, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach in a pan over medium heat. Cook until the spinach wilts.
- Add the cream. Pour in the heavy cream, stir, and then let it come to a simmer.
- Add the seasonings and cheese. Remove the sauce from the heat and add the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until everything is incorporated.
- Add the chicken and pasta. Add the chicken cubes and cooked penne pasta, and give a final stir. Serve with some delicious bread on the side.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes, you can make it ahead. Just follow the directions to make the chicken and sauce, and then store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container until you are almost ready to serve the dish. Then, reheat them and add freshly cooked pasta in when you are ready to serve.
Can I use chicken breasts instead?
Yes, you can. Slice the chicken breasts into cutlets before cooking them. This allows the meat to cook faster and also increases the surface area, so more of the chicken gets that crisp, golden brown outside.
Can I omit the spinach?
Yes, you can leave out the spinach if you prefer. You can also substitute it with other veggies, such as broccoli or asparagus.
How to make the Tuscan chicken pasta lighter
If you’d like a lighter cream sauce, then you could substitute Half & Half for the heavy cream. This will keep the sauce creamy, but slightly less rich.
Does it freeze well?
This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta does freeze well, making it a great make-ahead meal. Just place the fully cooled pasta dish in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag and it will keep in the freezer for about 6 months. To reheat it, just place it in the refrigerator overnight or in a bowl of water for about 20 minutes to thaw. Then, you can either microwave it or heat it on the stovetop.
Watch how to make this chicken pasta
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 garlic cloves ๏ฟผ
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 8 oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 lb penne pasta
Instructions
Seasong and cook the chicken
- Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Fill a large cast-iron skillet with the olive oil and cook both sides of the seasoned tenders over medium-high heat.
Chop the chicken adn set aside
- Now set them aside to cool, then dice them up into cubes.
Make the creamy Tuscan sauce
- Now make the sauce by sautรฉing the butter, minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes (oil drained) and spinach over medium heat.
- Once the spinach has wilted, add the cream and let it come to a simmer.
- Now remove from heat and add the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Add chicken and pasta in the sauce
- Then add your cooked hot penne pasta and cubes chicken back in. Give it a quick stir and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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Kari says
This site is quickly becoming my go to site for delicious recipes. This one with it’s creamy sauce, chunks of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and a perfect blend of seasonings is no exception. The comfort food I needed in my life today, with just the right blend of flavors and textures. I made mine with small broccoli florets because that’s all I had on hand and it worked well. This goes in the repeat recipe file!
simplyhomecooked says
Yay! So happy to hear you love my food blog, Kari ๐ Glad to hear this Tuscan chicken pasta was a big hit and that it will be a repeat recipe ๐ Thank you so much for your feedback and support of my blog ๐ I hope you find many delicious recipes on my blog that you will enjoy ๐
Rose Kostelecky says
I tried this today ! I halved the recipe because there is only two of us . I have to say absolutely delicious. I wouldnโt change a thing . So excited for my husband to try it. Thank you
simplyhomecooked says
So happy to hear that Rose! I hope your husband finds it as delicious as you ๐ Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback ๐
Lori says
Hi! So, if I want to cook all the pasta, would I double on the rest of the ingredients?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Lori ๐ Yes, you would just double up on all the ingredients. I hope you love this Tuscan chicken pasta!
Ricky says
Look, I NEVER comment on recipes, but I have to because I keep on coming back to this page. This recipe is THE BEST. EASY TO MAKE. TASTES AMAZING. and DOES NOT TAKE LONG TO COOK. People will be amazed at this! Thank you Dina for giving us this gift aka this pasta we stan.
simplyhomecooked says
Wow, Ricky! Your feedback just made my day! Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate it! ๐
Kerrie says
How long will the sauce last for in the fridge?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Kerrie ๐ Do you mean mixed in with the pasta or not? If mixed in with the pasta it can last up to about 3-5 days in the fridge. Fresh is always best ๐ Just make sure to keep it in an airtight container. If you want to make the sauce in advance then I wouldn’t recommend more than a few days. Hope that helps ๐
Sheyanne says
I shouldโve never ran across this. Itโs so different from the regular chicken Alfredo. I started cooking this at 9am Bc I had to go to work in a few hours..and my boyfriend would rather starve than to get up and cook something smh. I never tried sun dried tomatoes before but figured hey..Iโm 30 now. Itโs time to stop being scary. ๐ this is delicious!!!! Iโm glad I found it!
simplyhomecooked says
Sheyanne, your comment made me laugh so hard haha. Thank you for taking the time to write such a sweet and hilarious recipe review. I am so glad you loved the Tuscan Chicken Pasta! I hope you get a chance to browse my site. I have a lot of delicious recipes you might enjoy ๐
Sarah says
I made this and my family did not like the sun dried tomatoes from the oil, too seasoned. Would it taste good if I used sun dried tomatoes from the bag?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Sarah, you can try to drain all the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. The tomatoes from the bag will be similar in flavor. You can just omit the tomatoes from this Tuscan chicken pasta. Let me know how it goes ๐
Christina says
I have been in such a cooking rut and I made this tuscan pasta this weekend- it was a huge hit and so good! Really does take approx. 30 minutes and delicious recipe exactly as written! Thank you SO much!!! It will become a staple in our home.
simplyhomecooked says
You are very welcome Christina! ๐ This Tuscan chicken pasta really is a delicious dish! Very happy to hear you loved this recipe and that it was easy to make! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback and I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog ๐
Diane says
Absolutely delicious! Restaurant quality meal! Thank you!
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you so much for your kind words Diane! I am so glad you loved the pasta.
Jale says
I made this last night for an impromptu dinner party for six people. I got rave reviews. It was delicious. I also made it a couple hours before so I could have the kitchen clean and reheated it right before dinner. Thanks for the inspiration and recipe!
simplyhomecooked says
I am so glad everyone loved it Jale! I love it when dinner is done and the kitchen is all cleaned! ๐
Jale says
OK I just premade to serve in a couple of hours. Should I refrigerate in Tupperware or can I leave it in the sautรฉ pan with a lid and then reheat on the stove later? Thank you so much looks yummy
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Jale, yes I would keep it in the pan if you plan to serve it within a couple hours ๐ I hope you love it!
Avi I Chez-Shaw says
this was bussssssinnn bussin
simplyhomecooked says
Glad to hear you enjoyed this Tuscan chicken pasta ๐
Jhenne says
I found this on pinterest and was so happy! Quite easy to make and turned out delicious. Thanks for sharing ๐
simplyhomecooked says
Yay! So happy you loved this Tuscan chicken pasta! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this awesome review! I hope you find many more recipes on my food blog ๐