This 30-minute Creamy One Pan Chicken Spinach Pasta recipe is a quick and easy weeknight dish featuring succulent chicken, fresh spinach, tomatoes, and pasta in a cheesy cream sauce. It’s all cooked in a single pan for minimal cleanup!
Cheesy One Pan Monterey Chicken and Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi are family favorites for busy weeknights, too.
I made a commitment to myself to make weeknight dinners stress-free. That's where my flavorful and satisfying one pan chicken recipe came from! One-pan meals are perfect for busy days when you crave a hearty, homemade meal without the fuss. I like to enjoy the magic of its creamy goodness, savory chicken, and vibrant spinach in every mouthful.
This simple recipe is just as easy as my 20-minute Pesto Spinach Pasta and One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff, which makes tasty lunches or easy dinners!
Why You’ll Love This One-Pan Recipe
- Yep, One Pan: This recipe is a time-saving weeknight wonder since your pasta cooks in the same pan as the other ingredients. One pot also means less cleanup and fewer dishes. Yay!
- Flavorful: Combining chicken, spinach, tomatoes, and creamy sauce with Parmesan cheese creates a rich and mouth-watering Tuscan-inspired dish.
- Family-Friendly: Creamy pasta, like our Pizza Pasta Casserole, is a favorite of adults and children, which is a win-win at dinner time!
- Freezer-Friendly: Freeze all or part of this recipe for another meal.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Olive Oil: I like to use Extra virgin olive oil for cooking and sauteing.
- Chicken Breasts: Tender chicken is the main protein of the dish and pairs perfectly with the other ingredients. We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use skinless, boneless chicken thighs. We have also thrown in leftover chicken (like shredded rotisserie chicken) when we have it on hand.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning is the main flavor enhancer of the recipe, as well as sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Aromatics: Diced onion and minced garlic give your dish a savory, more robust flavor that penetrates the chicken with a delicious taste. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for the fresh garlic in a pinch.
- Chicken Broth: You use chicken broth for chicken stock for enhanced flavor when cooking the pasta.
- Diced Tomatoes: Using canned, fire-roasted diced tomatoes saves time and enhances the dish's flavor. I also throw in some sundried tomatoes when I have them on hand.
- Pasta: We recommend penne pasta because it’s ideal for retaining the delicious creamy sauce. It also pairs well with the tender chunks of chicken. Regular or whole-wheat pasta works well. Other varieties of pasta are fusilli or macaroni.
- Half and Half: Half and half is the perfect liquid for making your creamy sauce. It’s lower in fat than heavy cream but provides plenty of creaminess. You can use heavy cream if you prefer.
- Cheese: The combination of mozzarella and parmesan creates a thick, creamy, rich sauce that coats the pasta perfectly. For added creaminess, you can add 2 ounces of cream cheese when you add the cheese.
- Spinach: Adding this fresh baby spinach to your pasta enhances its nutritional value and helps you add more greens to your weeknight dinner.
Find the full recipe and instructions for this chicken pasta recipe in the printable recipe card below.
More Veggies
If you want to add more veggies to this easy recipe, I suggest saute bell peppers and/or mushrooms with your onions. You can also add fresh tomatoes or sundried tomatoes.
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Brown Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped chicken and Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook until browned on all sides (Image 1). Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Cook Onions and Garlic: In the same pan, add the remaining olive oil and chopped onion and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Cook Pasta & Other Ingredients: Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and juice, pasta, cooked chicken pieces, and crushed red pepper to the pan and stir to combine (Image 2). Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the pasta is tender and the chicken is cooked through (Image 3).
- Add Cheese: Remove lid and stir in the half-and-half and mozzarella cheese. Cook for an additional minute or until warmed through, and the cheese melts. Remove the pan from the heat and add the fresh spinach. Stir until it wilts and combines with the other ingredients (Image 4). Adjust seasoning if needed and top with the shredded parmesan. Enjoy!
Expert Recipe Tips
- Chicken Browning: Brown the chicken pieces on all sides for a nice color and added depth of flavor. Don't overcrowd the pan to ensure even browning.
- Customize with Vegetables: For added color and flavor in this easy pasta dish, you can add extra vegetables like cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms.
- Thickness of Your Sauce: If the sauce is too thin, I add more cheese to thicken it. If it’s too thick for your liking, add more chicken broth.
- Extra Flavor: Throw a Parmesan cheese rind into the pan as you cook the pasta for added flavor.
- Pan: We absolutely love our Le Creuset Braising pan. It's a large deep skillet perfect for one-pan dinners and lasts a lifetime!
Storing
Fridge: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freezer: Store your cooked and cooled pasta in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Since this recipe contains dairy, the texture may be different than when it’s freshly cooked. Top with Parmesan cheese after it's reheated.
Reheating: Thaw in the fridge overnight and heat in a skillet until warmed through or in the microwave until hot.
What To Serve with Chicken Pasta
Serve your one pot chicken spinach pasta with a crisp green salad or crusty garlic bread.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Chicken thighs can be a flavorful alternative to chicken breasts. Adjust the cooking time to ensure they are fully cooked.
Yes, you can use your favorite pasta variety, such as fusilli or macaroni, that will hold the creamy sauce. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Both fresh and frozen spinach can be used in this pasta. If using frozen spinach, make sure to thaw and drain it well before adding it to the pan and heating it through.
More One-Pot Recipes
Love this Chicken and Spinach Pasta recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.
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Printable Recipe
One Pan Chicken Spinach Pasta
Equipment
- Spatula or cooking spoon
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (divided)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 4-6 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 15-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 8 ounces penne pasta (uncooked)
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or however much spice you like)
- ½ cup half and half
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Brown Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped chicken and Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Cook Onions and Garlic: In the same pan, add the remaining olive oil and chopped onion and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Cook Pasta & Other Ingredients: Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and juice, pasta, cooked chicken pieces, and crushed red pepper to the pan and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the pasta is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
- Add Cheese: Remove lid and stir in the half and half and mozzarella cheese. Cook for an additional minute or until warmed through and the cheese melts. Remove the pan from the heat and add the fresh spinach. Stir until it wilts and combines with the other ingredients. Adjust seasoning if needed and top with the shredded parmesan. Enjoy!
Notes
-
- Chicken Browning: Brown the chicken pieces on all sides for a nice color and added depth of flavor. Don't overcrowd the pan to ensure even browning.
- Customize with Vegetables: You can add extra vegetables like cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, bell peppers, or mushrooms for added color and flavor in this easy pasta dish.
- Thickness of Your Sauce: If your sauce is too thin, add more cheese to thicken it. If it’s too thick for your liking, add more chicken broth.
- Storing: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Kara
I love finding a good one pot recipe, and this one was a hit! I halved the red pepper flakes just in case it was too spicy for the kids, but I think I could have used the full amount. This one is going in the regular rotation!
Diane V
Huge hit with my family! I added some Provolone cheese too and everyone loved it.
Erin Henry
Love the addition of Provolone cheese. Such a nice touch. So glad your family enjoyed this one-pot wonder!
Sha
This is a convenient recipe for a potluck! it's so easy and turned out to be rich, creamy and incredibly delicious! Everyone's favorite!
Erin Henry
A great recipe to share at a potluck, Sha. It's so rich and creamy, most love the recipe and go back for seconds!