Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta 🍝
This turned out amazing! Next time going to add more sauce! But it’s so good I recommend it to my pasta lovers!
Ingredients:
1 pound of pasta (I used Penne)
3 tablespoons of stick butter
half a spoon full of mince garlic
3 tablespoons of flour
1 3/4 milk
1 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese
2-3 chicken breasts
2-3 cups of fresh spinach
salt and pepper
Instructions:
1. Cook your pasta and your chicken, boil your pasta on medium heat, then chop and season your chicken with your likings (I used onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper) put vegetable oil in your skillet and cook it for about 8-10 minutes on medium heat. Stir/flip every 3-4 minutes or so.While that is cooking also chop up your spinach, or if your like me I just tore it with my fingers and remove the stem. Place the chopped spinach in a bowl and set aside.By then time your chicken is done so should be your pasta, place your chicken out of the skillet on to a plate with a paper towel on it (so it can soak up the oil) drain the water from your pasta and set aside.
2. Making the sauce!! In a skillet on low heat, melt your butter, once melted add in your garlic, whisk for about 2 minutes, then add in your flour and whisk that for 1 minute. Bring your heat up to medium.Then slowly add in half of your milk and whisk for a while or until we’ll mix, it will be very thick in the beginning , then add in your other half of milk once brought to bubbles/ boil whisk continuously for 6 minutes. Add salt a pepper and turn off your heat.
3.Add in your pasta, chicken, spinach and fold and mix together. Then finally add in your Parmesan cheese to mix that in. As a side I did garlic bread, pop toast in the toaster, place butter and garlic powder on it.One of the best pastas I’ve made!
(Be warned the pasta kinda of absorbed the sauce but you can still taste it, you can probably add 1/2 of pasta water to it! I personally didn’t because I don’t want the flavor taken away, so next time I made this, imma double the sauce!)
Okay pasta lovers, let's talk about taking this creamy chicken spinach pasta to the next level, especially for those busy weeknights when you still crave something homemade and utterly delicious! My original recipe for this creamy penne pasta was a hit, but I've picked up a few more tricks to make it even better and faster, truly living up to that 'easy weeknight' dream. First off, let's chat about that incredible garlic butter flavor. You know how much a little garlic can transform a dish! To really punch up the garlic in your garlic butter chicken spinach pasta, don't be shy with the minced garlic. I sometimes like to add a tiny bit more to the butter when it's just melting for an extra aromatic kick. Another trick? If you have garlic powder on hand (besides what you use for the chicken), a pinch in the sauce can deepen that flavor profile. And for the butter, browning it slightly before adding the garlic can add a wonderfully nutty undertone that complements the creamy sauce beautifully. Just keep a close eye on it so it doesn't burn! Now, about making this an absolute breeze for weeknights. I know we all want delicious food without spending hours in the kitchen! Here are some of my go-to shortcuts. You can prep your chicken ahead of time – cook and shred it on a Sunday, and then it's just a matter of tossing it in. Or, if you're really pressed for time, a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken works wonders. Just shred it and add it in at the end. For the spinach, I usually buy pre-washed bags and just tear it with my fingers, but if you're super organized, you can chop it (or tear it!) an hour or two before you start cooking. Speaking of pasta, while I adore penne, if you're a fan of garlic chicken spinach spaghetti, feel free to swap the penne for spaghetti! The creamy sauce coats long strands just as beautifully, so don't hesitate to use your favorite pasta shape. The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility. And for serving? The OCR mentioned "buttered toast," and honestly, it's a game-changer. I love making some quick garlic bread on the side. Just pop some bread in the toaster, spread some butter, sprinkle with garlic powder, and maybe a little dried parsley if you're feeling fancy. It's perfect for soaking up every last drop of that amazing creamy Parmesan sauce! Also, don't forget that final sprinkle of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese right before serving – it adds that perfect savory, salty finish. Sometimes, I even add a dash of red pepper flakes for a subtle heat that really brightens the whole dish. Trust me, with these little tweaks, your easy creamy garlic butter chicken spinach pasta will be a new staple in your weeknight rotation!