Chicken Spinach Pasta

Chicken spinach pasta is the perfect blend of tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a creamy sauce, all twirled around your favorite short pasta. Ready in just about 30 minutes, it's a downright weeknight savior.

📝 Ingredients

• 8 oz (250 g) fussili
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (20 g) unsalted butter
• 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium red onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 cup (100 ml) low-sodium chicken stock
• 1 cup (200 ml) half and half (single cream)
• 4 oz (125 g) fresh baby spinach
• 1/3 cup (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Bring a large pot of water to a...: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously. Add the fussili and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining.
2. 2Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and unsalted butter...: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and unsalted butter over medium heat in a large skillet or pan. Add the chicken breast pieces, season them with a bit of salt and pepper, and cook for 5-7 minutes until they turn golden and are fully cooked.
3. 3To the same pan with the chicken, add...: To the same pan with the chicken, add the finely diced red onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
4. 4Next, add the dried oregano, dried basil, and...: Next, add the dried oregano, dried basil, and red chili flakes and stir well.
5. 5Stir in the tomato paste to the chicken...: Stir in the tomato paste to the chicken and onion mixture, cooking for a minute. Pour in the low-sodium chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Then, add the half and half, stirring continuously. Allow the mixture to simmer gently until it begins to thicken into a creamy sauce.
6. 6Add the fresh baby spinach to the sauce,...: Add the fresh baby spinach to the sauce, stirring until the spinach wilts and integrates into the sauce.
7. 7Next, add the cooked fussili to the pan....: Next, add the cooked fussili to the pan. Toss everything together, ensuring the pasta is well coated with the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water.
8. 8Add the grated Parmesan and give it a...: Add the grated Parmesan and give it a good stir to mix everything evenly. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.