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Creamy Tuscan chicken pasta garnished with fresh basil on a white plate.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe

This creamy Tuscan chicken pasta recipe combines tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan in a rich, silky sauce. A simple, flavorful, restaurant-quality dinner ready in under 40 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 780 kcal

Ingredients
  

Chicken

  • 1.5 –2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts 2–3 breasts
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Pasta

  • 12 –16 oz penne rigatoni, or fettuccine pasta

Creamy Tuscan Sauce

  • 3 –4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 –1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 –1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 4 cups fresh spinach
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil for garnish
  • Optional: juice of 1/2 lemon for brightness

Instructions
 

Season the Chicken

  • Pat the chicken breasts dry. Season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.

Sear the Chicken

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.

Cook the Pasta

  • Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.

Start the Tuscan Sauce

  • In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze, scraping the browned bits.

Add Cream and Tomatoes

  • Stir in the heavy cream and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.

Melt the Parmesan

  • Add Parmesan a little at a time, stirring until fully melted and the sauce becomes creamy.

Add Spinach

  • Stir in the spinach until it wilts into the sauce.

Return Chicken to Pan

  • Slice the chicken and add it to the sauce. Simmer for 3–5 minutes to finish cooking.

Add Pasta

  • Add the cooked pasta. Toss well to coat. Use pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.

Serve

  • Taste and adjust seasoning. Add fresh basil and optional lemon juice before serving.

Notes

  • Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce; pre-shredded cheese may clump.
  • If the sauce becomes too thick, add more broth or pasta water.
  • For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
  • You can replace chicken breasts with chicken thighs for extra juiciness.