30 Minute Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta

This quick and easy weeknight pasta uses a homemade parmesan sauce, chicken, and plenty of spinach!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 pound pasta (we used penne)
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 2 Tablespoons cream cheese (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 3 heaping cups fresh spinach, lightly chopped
• 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (step 1)
• salt and pepper to taste

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Cook the penne in very salty water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water (reserve more if doubling or tripling the recipe), then drain pasta and return the pot to the stove.
2. 2Add butter to pot and melt over medium heat. Add chopped garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3. 3Add flour to butter and whisk to combine. Let cook for 1 minute until fragrant and lightly browned.
4. 4Add milk a little at a time, whisking constantly to work out any lumps. Milk will thicken up quickly at the beginning, but as you whisk the rest of the milk in it will loosen the sauce.
5. 5Cook sauce, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 6 minutes.
6. 6Add chicken, spinach, and cream cheese. Stir until cheese has melted.
7. 7Turn off the heat and stir in parmesan cheese.
8. 8Return cooked pasta to sauce and stir to combine. Stir in the reserved pasta water a few Tablespoons at a time until sauce is smooth and creamy (you may not need all of the pasta water.)
9. 9Taste the pasta! Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with extra parmesan and fresh cracked black pepper (optional) and serve immediately.