Easy Chicken Florentine Pasta Recipe with Spinach and Parmesan
Make this Chicken Florentine Pasta Recipe with tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a creamy Parmesan sauce for an easy and comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts 1 lb
- Pasta 12 oz
- Olive oil 2 tbsp
- Garlic 3 cloves, minced
- Baby spinach 5 oz
- Heavy cream 1 cup
- Chicken broth 1/2 cup
- Parmesan freshly grated (1/2 cup
- Sun-dried tomatoes chopped (1/4 cup, optional)
- Salt black pepper,
- red pepper flakes.
- Fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
1. Prep the Chicken
- Pat the chicken dry, then season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Cut it into evenly sized pieces so that it cooks quickly, stays tender, and all pieces are done at the same time.
2. Sear Until Golden
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Sear the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until it turns a deep golden brown—and don’t overcrowd the skillet!
3. Boil the Pasta
- Boil the pasta in well-salted water until it’s al dente. Reserve a full cup of the starchy pasta water before draining it—you’ll need it later to thin the sauce.
4. Build the Sauce
- In the same skillet, scrape off any remaining browned bits, then sauté the garlic for 30 seconds, just until it becomes fragrant. Pour in the broth and cream, and let it simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Wilt the Spinach
- Add the spinach a handful at a time, stirring until it wilts and incorporates into the sauce. This happens quickly.
6. Bring It All Together
- Add the chicken—which you set aside to rest earlier—to the pan along with the pasta, Parmesan cheese, and a little of the pasta cooking water you set aside. Toss the ingredients together.
Notes
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 580–620
- Protein: 38g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fat: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg