Description

This One Pan Chicken Spinach Alfredo is a creamy, comforting dish that combines tender chicken, fresh spinach, and rich Alfredo sauce all cooked together with pasta in a single skillet. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, delivering delicious flavors and minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein and Vegetables

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh spinach

Liquids and Dairy

14 ounces chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese

Pantry Staples and Seasonings

1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic salt
8 oz short pasta

Instructions

Heat the Pan: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil to coat the pan.
Season the Chicken: Season the cubed chicken breasts with garlic salt and black pepper evenly on all sides.
Cook the Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken to the hot skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the chicken is browned on all sides and mostly cooked through.
Sauté the Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant but not burned.
Add Liquid and Pasta: Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and uncooked short pasta. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover the skillet and let it cook for about 10 minutes to allow the pasta to absorb the liquid and begin to soften.
Cook with Spinach: Stir in the fresh spinach, cover again, and continue cooking for an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until the pasta is tender and spinach is wilted.
Add Cheese and Finish: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well incorporated, creating a creamy Alfredo sauce.
Serve: Plate the chicken Alfredo immediately while hot and enjoy this rich one-pan meal.

Notes

For best results, use short pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or rotini to allow even cooking with the sauce.
If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen it.
You can substitute fresh spinach with baby spinach or kale for a different texture.
To make it lighter, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but the sauce won’t be as rich.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: One pan chicken alfredo, chicken spinach pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy chicken dinner, one skillet meals