Creamy Spinach Chicken Pasta with Alfredo Sauce
Make a rich, restaurant-style creamy spinach chicken pasta using a simple Alfredo sauce base. This recipe delivers a decadent meal suitable for a weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fettuccine or penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to low. Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Stir in the pinch of nutmeg, if using.
- Add the fresh spinach to the sauce and stir until it wilts completely, about 2 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated.
- If the sauce seems too thick, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired creaminess.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use fresh Parmesan cheese grated just before adding it to the sauce.
- You can substitute store-bought Alfredo sauce, but reduce the added butter and Parmesan slightly to avoid an overly salty result.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, simmer the cream and broth mixture for an extra minute before adding the cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 40
- Saturated Fat: 22
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 45
- Cholesterol: 150