Quick Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta

Preparing a flavourful and nutritious dinner shouldn’t consume your entire evening. This recipe for quick creamy chicken and spinach pasta is expertly designed for those bustling weeknights, demanding minimal active cooking time yet yielding a deeply satisfying result. Every step has been meticulously planned to maximise efficiency, enabling you to relish a warm, wholesome meal from preparation to table in just 30 minutes. It offers a wonderfully practical solution for when you crave something truly delicious without any unnecessary complications or fuss.

Quick Overview

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 11.3 oz (320g) short pasta (e.g., penne, fusilli)
• 14.1 oz (400g) chicken breast, diced
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 7 oz (200g) cherry tomatoes, halved
• 7 fl oz (200ml) fresh cooking cream
• 3.5 fl oz (100ml) chicken (or vegetable) stock
• 5.3 oz (150g) fresh spinach
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Method

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
2. While the pasta cooks, dice the chicken breast into approximately 2cm cubes. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat.
3. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s golden brown and thoroughly cooked. Stir in the minced garlic and halved cherry tomatoes, cooking for another minute.
4. Pour the fresh cooking cream and chicken stock into the frying pan. Add the fresh spinach and allow it to wilt, stirring gently, until the sauce thickens slightly.
5. Drain the pasta, reserving about half a cup of the pasta cooking water. Transfer the drained pasta directly into the frying pan with the chicken and spinach sauce.
6. Toss well to combine all the ingredients, adding a little of the reserved pasta cooking water if necessary to achieve a beautifully creamy consistency. Serve immediately, garnished with a generous scattering of grated Parmesan cheese.

Serving & Leftovers

Serve the pasta hot, garnished with grated Parmesan and, if desired, a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, add a tablespoon of water or stock and warm gently in a pan or microwave.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portions.

One Last Thing

This recipe shows how a satisfying meal fits easily into your routine. Its simplicity makes it repeatable, a dependable solution for busy evenings. When time is precious but good food is desired, this straightforward approach ensures you can enjoy every meal stress-free.