Description
This 30 Minute Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta is a quick and comforting weeknight meal featuring a rich homemade parmesan sauce, tender shredded chicken, and fresh spinach tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta. The creamy sauce is made using a buttery garlic roux and a blend of milk, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese, creating a luscious texture that coats every bite. Ready in just half an hour, it’s an easy dinner that satisfies with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound penne pasta
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 3 heaping cups fresh spinach, lightly chopped
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the penne in very salty boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and return the pot to the stove.
- Sauté Garlic: Add butter to the pot and melt over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Make Roux: Stir in the all-purpose flour to the melted butter and garlic. Whisk to combine and let cook for 1 minute until the mixture is fragrant and lightly browned.
- Add Milk: Gradually add the milk a little at a time while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Initially, the sauce will thicken quickly then loosen as you incorporate the rest of the milk.
- Thicken Sauce: Continue cooking the sauce over medium heat while whisking occasionally until it thickens, about 6 minutes.
- Add Chicken and Spinach: Stir in the cooked shredded chicken, chopped fresh spinach, and cream cheese (if using). Stir until the cream cheese has melted and the spinach is wilted.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Turn off the heat and stir in the shredded parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Return the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Slowly add the reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until the sauce reaches a smooth, creamy consistency (you may not need all the reserved water).
- Season and Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, combining homemade parmesan sauce with nutritious spinach and tender chicken.
- Reserve extra pasta water if doubling or tripling the recipe to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Using cream cheese is optional but adds extra creaminess to the sauce.
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese enhances flavor significantly compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- Ensure pasta is cooked al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy when combined with the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 618
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 461.4 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 11.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 64.9 g
- Fiber: 2.9 g
- Protein: 31.8 g
- Cholesterol: 99 mg
