I cook this on a busy weeknight when the sink is full and my patience is not. One Pan Pasta Recipes keep me sane. This pan gives tender chicken, warm tomatoes, and soft spinach in a creamy sauce. It lands fast and tastes bright. The kitchen smells like garlic and comfort. I twirl a fork and grin. We like meals that work hard without a lot of moving parts. I wrote this with chicken pasta recipes in mind, and with chicken and pasta recipes easy for real life. I keep it light and friendly so it fits healthy chicken pasta recipes that still feel cozy. I reach for it when I crave simple pasta recipes that do not need a sink full of pots. Friends ask for crockpot chicken pasta recipes and I point them here when they want the same flavors made in a pan. It fits spinach and chicken recipes that feed kids and grown ups without a fuss. Steam rises. Sauce clings. You sit down and eat well.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
- 4) How to Make Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
- 5) Tips for Making Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
- 6) Making Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
- 8) Try these pasta dinners next
- 9) Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
I cook this on a weeknight when the sink looks wild and the clock runs fast. The sauce turns creamy in minutes. The spinach softens and keeps a bright shade of green. The chicken stays tender. One Pan Pasta Recipes keeps clean up simple and my mood level. I use one deep skillet. I use pantry goods that wait without fuss. I eat well and I keep dishes light.
The goal stays clear. We want comfort that still feels light. We want a steady method that anyone can repeat. We want a short list that lives in most kitchens. This dish does that work. It brings garlic and tomato and cream into a smooth sauce that hugs pasta. It tastes rich yet fresh. It plates fast and feeds four with ease.
I write this for Camila Cooks where we cook with calm and care. I am Camila and I test this many times, so you can trust the steps. If you like one pot pasta recipes you will feel at home here. If you need dinner that plays nice with family life this one fits.
2) Easy Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta Recipe
One Pan Pasta Recipes save the night and save the sink. One Pan Pasta Recipes also bring focus. I brown chicken in the same pan that holds the sauce and the finish. The heat wakes the garlic. Tomato paste deepens flavor. Cream rounds the edges. Spinach slides in at the end and wilts on cue. We twirl noodles and feel like the house just exhaled.
I keep the tone simple and the steps tight. The method travels well to tiny apartments and roomy home kitchens. I learned that a small hit of pasta water keeps the sauce glossy and clingy. I learned that a minute of rest lets the sauce grip the noodles. These small moves add up. They make this dish feel like a smart weeknight trick.
You can swap shapes and still hold the spirit. Short pasta makes scooping easy for kids. Long pasta gives a good twirl for grown ups. This recipe lives on Camila Cooks at https //www.camilacooks.com where we make supper feel doable and kind. Fans of chicken pasta and tomato pasta will smile after the first bite.
3) Ingredients for Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
Boneless skinless chicken breast thin slices cook fast and stay juicy in a warm pan. I pat them dry so they brown well. A small pinch of salt and pepper goes on both sides before they meet heat. This simple step builds flavor without crowding the sauce.
Short pasta such as penne or rotini ridges hold sauce so every bite tastes balanced. I like a shape that scoops well so the chicken and spinach ride with the noodles. Use what sits in your pantry and call it a win. Lovers of one pot pasta recipes will enjoy how this shape works with the sauce.
Olive oil and butter the pair gives a round base for searing and for building the sauce. Oil raises the smoke point. Butter adds a soft finish. The mix keeps garlic from scorching and helps brown the chicken without stress.
Fresh garlic two or three cloves bring warmth and comfort. I mince them fine and add them once the pan cools a touch from the sear. That keeps the flavor sweet and keeps the edges from turning bitter. The kitchen smells cozy in seconds.
Tomato paste and tomato sauce paste gives depth and a quick caramel tone. Sauce loosens the base and stretches flavor across the pan. The two build a sturdy tomato body that still tastes bright. A spoon scrapes the fond and pulls every bit into the sauce.
Heavy cream or half and half cream softens the acid and makes a silky coat on the pasta. Half and half works for a lighter touch. Start with less then add more to taste. The sauce should cling but still move when you tilt the spoon.
Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper a small shake adds herbs and a soft spark. Go light so the tomato and garlic still lead. If you like heat, nudge the pepper up a notch. If not, skip it and keep the sauce mellow.
Baby spinach two packed cups wilt down into tender bites. I add them near the end so they stay green and fresh. The leaves fold into the sauce and cling to the noodles. Spinach makes this feel bright and balanced.
Parmesan fresh grated cheese melts into the finish and adds a nutty lift. Save a pinch for the top. The last sprinkle looks pretty and tastes sharp. It ties the dish together in a neat way.
4) How to Make Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
Step 1 boil salted water and cook pasta until it has a small bite. Scoop a cup of the water and set it near the stove. Drain the pasta and let it rest. The water will help the sauce shine later.
Step 2 pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper and a light shake of garlic powder. Warm olive oil with butter in a deep skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken until both sides look golden and the center reads done. Move it to a plate and keep the pan on the burner.
Step 3 lower the heat a touch. Stir in minced garlic. Let it bloom for a short minute. Add tomato paste and stir until it turns a deeper red. Pour in tomato sauce and a small splash of the pasta water. Scrape the pan so the fond releases into the sauce.
Step 4 stir in cream. Add Italian seasoning and a small pinch of red pepper. Simmer until the sauce looks glossy. Slice the cooked chicken and add it back with any juices on the plate. Toss to coat the pieces well.
Step 5 fold in spinach until it wilts. Add the drained pasta and toss. If the sauce looks tight, add small splashes of pasta water until it moves and clings. Let the pan rest for one minute off heat. Sprinkle with Parmesan and taste for salt.
5) Tips for Making Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
Dry chicken browns better. Use paper towels and press both sides. Space the strips in the pan so steam does not build. Golden edges give flavor that the sauce later picks up. This one move lifts the whole dish.
Keep garlic near warm not blazing hot. Add it after the sear when the pan calms a bit. Stir for a short minute then add paste and sauce. You get sweet garlic notes rather than harsh ones. Single pan pasta dishes thrive on small touches like this.
Hold a scoop of pasta water and use it with care. A splash can thin a sauce that turned thick. A splash can help cheese melt and spread. This trick saves many dinners. It works here every time and keeps the finish silky.
6) Making Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta Ahead of Time
Cook the pasta a minute short and toss it with a spoon of olive oil so it does not stick. Chill it in a flat container. Slice the cooked chicken and store it apart from the sauce. This keeps texture in good shape when you heat things later.
Make the sauce to the point before spinach. Cool it and store it in a jar. Reheat it in a skillet and add a splash of water to loosen. Fold in spinach and warm through. Add the pasta and chicken and toss. Skillet pasta ideas like this give you fast dinners on busy nights.
For the finish add Parmesan at the table. It keeps the flavor bright. If you meal prep, portion into lidded bowls so lunch packs fast. The dish stays creamy for two days and keeps flavor on day three with a spoon of water when reheated.
7) Storing Leftover Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
Use tight containers and chill within two hours. The pasta tastes great for up to three days. Reheat on the stove over gentle heat with small splashes of water until the sauce loosens and coats the noodles again. Stir often to keep the sauce smooth.
If you reheat in a microwave, cover the bowl and pause to stir once or twice. This spreads heat and stops dry edges. Add a small pinch of Parmesan at the end for a fresh pop. The dish comes back to life with little effort.
For the freezer skip the spinach and add fresh leaves after thawing. Pasta changes in the freezer so keep batches small. Label and date so you stay on track. One more note for fans of One Pan Pasta Recipes the flavor holds well after a gentle reheat.
8) Try these pasta dinners next
9) Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
One Pan Pasta Recipes Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked short pasta such as penne
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 half tablespoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can tomato sauce fourteen ounces
- 3 quarter cup heavy cream
- 1 quarter teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups packed baby spinach
- Fresh grated parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta until just tender. Reserve a small cup of the pasta water and drain.
- Pat the chicken dry. Slice into thin strips. Season all over with garlic powder salt and pepper.
- Warm the olive oil with the butter in a deep pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the minced garlic to the same pan. Stir for a short minute. Stir in the tomato paste.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and the cream. Sprinkle in Italian seasoning. Simmer on low heat for a few minutes until the sauce looks silky.
- Stir in the spinach until it wilts.
- Return the chicken and any juices to the pan. Add the pasta and toss. If the sauce seems tight splash in a bit of the reserved pasta water.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with parmesan.
10) Nutrition
Serving size one bowl. Estimated values per serving. Calories around five hundred seventy. Protein around thirty three grams. Carbs around fifty eight grams. Fiber around five grams. Fat around twenty four grams with a smaller part from saturated fat. Sodium near five hundred forty milligrams. Values will shift with pasta shape and salt level.
This recipe lives on Camila Cooks at https //www.camilacooks.com where we keep dinner calm and kind. I wrote and tested this to help busy cooks make food that feels warm and friendly. Main keyword use note One Pan Pasta Recipes appears here to aid readers who search for simple skillet meals.
Extra keywords appear once each for search clarity creamy tomato chicken pasta and easy weeknight chicken pasta and healthy spinach chicken pasta and spinach chicken and tomato pasta. They land in natural spots in the copy so the flow stays smooth for real readers.
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