Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Sun-dried tomatoes bring concentrated sweetness and acidity to this chicken pasta, while spinach softens into the sauce and balances the richer elements. Garlic and Parmesan connect the pasta and chicken so the finished dish tastes cohesive rather than like separate ingredients tossed together.
Reserve pasta water before draining; a splash helps loosen the sauce and makes it cling to the penne. Add the spinach near the end so it wilts but still keeps some color.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes Give This Pasta Its Backbone
- Sun-dried tomatoes add concentrated tomato flavor without making the sauce watery.
- Browning the chicken separately keeps it from steaming while the sauce is built in the same pan.
- Reserved pasta water gives you a simple way to loosen the Parmesan sauce without adding more cream.
- Spinach wilts into the hot pasta at the end, adding freshness without another pot.
Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 10 oz penne
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes sliced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Season chicken and cook in olive oil over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through; transfer out.
- Cook garlic and sun-dried tomatoes for 30 seconds.
- Add broth and half-and-half and simmer 3 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan, spinach, chicken and drained pasta.
- Loosen with reserved pasta water as needed and serve.
Notes
Brown the Chicken Separately
Cooking the chicken first gives it room to color and prevents it from overcooking while the sauce comes together. Transfer it out as soon as it is cooked, then return it near the end.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes Season the Sauce
A small amount goes a long way because sun-dried tomatoes are concentrated. Warm them with garlic briefly so their flavor spreads into the broth and half-and-half.
Pasta Water Is Your Adjustment Tool
Reserve some before draining. Parmesan and pasta starch can tighten the sauce quickly, so a splash of that starchy water lets you loosen the pan without diluting the flavor as much as plain water would.
Add Spinach at the Finish
Stir the spinach in once the sauce is nearly done. It needs only enough time to wilt, which keeps its color and prevents extra liquid from collecting in the pan.
