Tuscan Chicken Pasta | Simple Creamy Pasta Dinner

Published Date: September 27, 2021
Last Updated: September 27, 2021

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Tuscan chicken pasta is seasoned chicken breast floating in a rich sauce made of heavy cream, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and loaded with a variety of cheeses. Serve it on top of a bed of perfectly al dente pasta for a meal that is just as delicious the next day as it is straight from the skillet.

Tuscan Chicken Pasta on a white plate

Do you ever have those nights where you want something that tastes like you put in a little more effort than usual, but you don’t ACTUALLY want to put in more effort than usual? This Tuscan Chicken Pasta is the dish you need for nights like that. It’s a great stay-at-home date night meal, a way to celebrate that promotion, an improved report card, or even just another week in the books as you start the weekend.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients on a wooden cutting board

Chicken Breasts– serves as the star of the dish and the main source of protein.

Angel Hair Pasta– Is tender and delicate and makes for the perfect vessel for the cream sauce.

Baby Spinach– Cooks quickly and adds a beautiful color and nutrients to the dish.

Sun-Dried Tomatoes– Are the flavor punch that elevates this dish to the next level.

Olive Oil– To saute the chicken in.

Mozzarella Cheese– Helps to thicken the cream sauce.

Parmesan Cheese– Used to top the pasta and add a salty, tangy flavor.

Chicken Broth– The body of the sauce.

Heavy Cream– Makes the pasta rich and creamy.

Garlic– Is it even a pasta dish without the addition of fresh garlic?

Salt– Just a pinch will do.

Pepper– To help balance the flavor of the dish.

Paprika– Adds a beautiful reddish tint to the pasta sauce.

How To Make Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Chicken breast on a wooden cutting board

Step 1: Filet and season your chicken breast.

Chicken breast cooking in a skillet

Step 2: Cook the chicken breasts. Add olive oil to a skillet and cook the chicken, flipping half way through.

Step 3: Remove chicken breasts and add broth and heavy cream. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir sauce mixture until combined.

Tuscan Chicken sauce ingredients in a skillet

Step 4: Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. You can chop the spinach into smaller pieces or leave them whole. It depends on your texture preference.

Pasta cooking with tongs

Step 5: Cook the pasta. Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt the water. Cook until al dente and drain.

Sliced chicken breast on a wooden cutting board

Step 6: Slice the chicken breast. If serving “family-style” slice your chicken breasts into bite sized portions after it has had time to rest.

Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Step 7: Combine all ingredients and serve. Add the sliced chicken breast and cooked pasta to the creamy pasta sauce. Toss until well incorporated and serve.

Tips, Tricks, and Variations

  • Use thin chicken breasts. Using thin chicken breasts allows them to cook quickly and completely without burning the outside or drying them out.
  • Switch up the pasta. I prefer angel hair pasta because of how delicate it is. Feel free to use a variety of noodles -like linguini, penne, or even orzo- to soak up the yummy cream sauce.
  • Make it low carb. Watching your carbs? Skip the pasta entirely. The richness of the sauce paired with the protein and veggies makes for an incredibly filling meal that is perfect for a keto lifestyle.
  • Add more veggies. I only included spinach and sun dried tomatoes in this version of Tuscan Chicken, but feel free to add cauliflower, kale, or squash to add additional depth of flavor and boost the nutritional value.
  • Double up the sauce. Y’all, this sauce is GOOD. If you like to dip bread in your pasta, or love a more coated pasta dish, double up the sauce ingredients and cook as directed.

What Do You Serve With Tuscan Chicken Pasta?

This Tuscan Chicken Pasta is one of those “one-stop-shop” types of meals. It has protein, carbs, veggies, and is packed with flavor from a variety of spices and dairy. If you’re still looking for ways to round out this dish, here are a few things that pair well with it:

  • Garlic bread. Bread is a classic pairing for any pasta dish. This one is no exception.
  • Side Salad. Avoid going back for a second helping by starting out with a crisp green salad.
  • Asparagus. Adding a little more green to your plate is always a great way to cut through some of the richness of a creamy pasta sauce.

Meal Prep and Storage

Reheating pasta can be hit and miss on how delicious it is reheated. Well, this Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe is one of my favorite things to meal prep for lunches and leftovers because of how amazing it tastes when it’s reheated. There’s something about letting the noodles sit in the delicious cream sauce that makes them more flavorful the longer you store them.

If you’re looking for an easy to pack and reheat meal, here’s how to store and reheat:

To Store

I prefer to keep my chicken and pasta with sauce all in one container. The chicken takes a little longer to reheat than the noodles do, but storing them together prevents the chicken from drying out in the refrigerator. I also like to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces before tossing it into a food storage container so it heats a little quicker and you can avoid packing another utensil in your lunchbox (and makes it a kid-friendly meal option to take to school).

To Reheat

If you’re at home and reheating this dish, I prefer to add just a splash or two of milk (a couple of tablespoons) and pop the food storage container in the microwave for about a minute and a half with the lid resting on top (not secured). This helps steam the pasta so it doesn’t get rubbery and aids in warming the chicken a little quicker.

If you’re on the go, you can either add a little milk to your container before you leave for the day, or (if you’re forgetful like me) you can add a little bit of water and warm as directed above. No matter what type of liquid you use to reheat your Tuscan Chicken Pasta, make sure you add some. The pasta will absorb quite a bit of the cream sauce overnight.

Can I Freeze It?

Absolutely! This recipe is a great option for freezer meal prep. To store it, cook as directed and slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Place the pasta into a freezer-safe container or a large freezer bag. Lay flat while freezing for quicker defrosting. You can store it for up to 6 months for best results.

To reheat from frozen, place the freezer container in the refrigerator overnight and then warm the defrosted dish as directed above.

More Easy Recipes

Tuscan Chicken Pasta served with garlic bread

If you love this Tuscan Chicken Pasta as much as I do, make sure you share the recipe with your friends so they can try it too. Don’t forget to Pin it so that you can make it again soon!

Tuscan Chicken Pasta | Simple Creamy Pasta Dinner

Tuscan Chicken Pasta on a white plate

Tuscan chicken pasta is seasoned chicken breast floating in a rich sauce made of heavy cream, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and loaded with a variety of cheeses. Serve it on top of a bed of perfectly al dente pasta for a meal that is just as delicious the next day as it is straight from the skillet.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 Large Chicken Breasts
  • 16 oz Angel Hair Pasta
  • 6 oz Baby Spinach
  • 4 oz Sun Dried Tomatoes in Oil
  • 4 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 3 cups Chicken Broth
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
  • 2 cloves Fresh Garlic (chopped) or 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Paprika

Instructions

Step 1: Filet and season your chicken breasts. If they are thin-sliced chicken breasts, you can skip fileting.

Step 2: Add olive oil to a skillet and cook the chicken, flipping halfway through. For thin chicken breasts, this should take about 5 minutes on each side. Remember to always check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it is at least 165F.

Step 3: Remove chicken breasts from the skillet and allow to rest on a cutting board. Add broth and heavy cream. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir the sauce mixture until combined.

Step 4: Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. You can chop the spinach or tomatoes into smaller pieces or leave them whole.

Step 5: Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt the water. Cook until al dente (about 4 minutes) and drain.

Step 6: Slice your chicken breasts into bite-sized portions after it has had time to rest. Letting it rest while your pasta cooks is usually adequate.

Step 7: Add the sliced chicken breast and cooked pasta to the creamy pasta sauce. Toss until well incorporated, sprinkle with shredded parmesan, and serve.


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Hi! I'm Ashley.

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I'm married to my high school sweetheart and we have three amazing sons.

I love carbs, cheese, and all things spicy and deep fried. There's nothing that makes me happier than a full kitchen table and a family with a full belly!


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