This recipe makes a creamy chicken and spinach pasta that is perfect for a quick mid-week meal. It’s filling and delicious with a creamy texture and is ideal for lunch or dinner.
For this recipe the chicken breasts are seasoned and baked. They are then combined with a creamy sauce made with crème fraiche and includes spinach with rigatoni pasta.
This creamy chicken spinach pasta is a balanced meal that is perfect for all the family. My younger daughter who is a very fussy eater loves this dish so if you have children, they will probably love it too.
This creamy chicken spinach pasta recipe is quick, easy and you can prepare this dish in under 30 minutes so if you have a busy schedule and need something you can rustle up quickly then give this recipe a try.
Ingredients for Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta
For the full list of ingredients and measurements, scroll to the recipe card below.
- Chicken – I use medium chicken breast fillets.
- Seasonings - salt, black pepper, garlic granules, onion granules and paprika.
- Oil – I use extra virgin olive oil.
- Onion – use a brown onion.
- Garlic – use fresh garlic cloves.
- Tomatoes – I use cherry tomatoes in this recipe.
- Spinach – use young spinach leaves.
- Crème fraîche – you can use half fat crème fraiche if you want to lower the calories.
- Pasta – use rigatoni or penne pasta.
- Cheese – I use medium cheddar as it melts well.
How to Make Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta
Season the chicken breasts
On a baking tray lined with parchment paper, season the chicken breasts with the salt, black pepper, garlic granules, onion granules and paprika.
Bake the chicken
Bake the chicken for 20 - 25 minutes or until cooked through then once cooled, chop the chicken into smaller pieces and set aside.
Cook the pasta
Bring a saucepan of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Strain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
Cook the vegetables
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan on a medium to high heat then add the onions and garlic then cook for 2 minutes. Add in the tomatoes and cook for a further 3 minutes. Once the tomatoes are soft, add the spinach and cook until it wilts.
Add the creme fraiche and cheese
Reduce the heat to low then mix in the creme fraiche followed by the cheese and stir until the cheese melts.
Combine the sauce with the chicken and pasta
Add in the chopped chicken and pasta, combine well then serve.
Storage
This creamy chicken and spinach pasta can last in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition based on 1 serving - Calories: 482kcal | Fat: 14.8g | Saturates: 6.8g | Carbs: 52.5g | Sugar: 7.4g | Fibre: 4.0g | Protein: 34.8g | Salt: 0.62g.
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Creamy Chicken and Spinach Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breast fillets
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 teaspoon onion granules
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or any oil of choice.
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic fined chopped
- 150g cherry tomatoes halved or tinned tomatoes
- 250g young spinach raw
- 160g crème fraiche
- 250g rigatoni pasta dry weight
- 50g medium cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Start by seasoning the chicken breasts with the salt, black pepper, garlic granules, onion granules and paprika.
- Place the chicken breasts on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until cooked through. Allow to cool then chop the chicken into smaller pieces.
- Bring a saucepan of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packaging, strain then set aside.
- To a large frying pan, add the cooking oil and place on a medium to high heat. Cook the onions and garlic for 2 minutes then add the tomatoes and cook for a further 3 minutes. When the tomatoes become soft, add the spinach and cook until it wilts.
- Reduce the heat to low then mix in the creme fraiche and cheddar cheese. Once the cheddar melts, mix in the chopped cooked chicken and cooked pasta. Once combined, its ready to serve.
Sarah says
I don’t normally comment on recipes but this pasta dish was very nice. I wasn’t sure about the spinach as I’m not a fan of it but combined with the pasta, I actually enjoyed spinach for once.