Description
Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta is a rich and flavorful 30-minute dish made with tender chicken, aromatic leeks and garlic, fresh spinach, and a light lemony cream sauce tossed with pasta and finished with herbs and cheese. A comforting one-pan meal perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 8–10 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1½–2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning (or salt and pepper to taste)
- 1 small leek, chopped (or 1 small yellow onion, chopped)
- 2 green onions, ends trimmed and sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1–1¼ cup heavy cream
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup freshly grated Mizithra or Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh herbs, minced (parsley and dill recommended)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Season cubed chicken with lemon pepper seasoning and a pinch of salt.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add chicken and sear for 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, melt butter and add chopped leeks (or onion), garlic, and green onions. Sauté for about 3 minutes until softened.
- Add chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, and Dijon mustard. Stir and simmer for 1 minute, scraping up browned bits from the pan.
- Stir in baby spinach and cook until just wilted.
- Return chicken to the pan, then pour in the cream. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, adjusting heat as needed.
- Add cooked pasta and fresh herbs to the pan. Toss to combine.
- Stir in grated cheese and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra herbs, lemon zest, and additional cheese or crumbled feta if desired.
Notes
- If sauce thickens too much after adding pasta, loosen with a splash of broth or cream.
- Reheat with added broth or cream to restore creamy consistency.
- Can substitute ground chicken or turkey for cubed chicken breast.
- Optional: dredge chicken in flour before searing for a light crust.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
