Description
This Creamy Garlic Tomato Chicken and Spinach Fettuccine is a rich, comforting Italian-American dish that combines tender chicken strips, fresh spinach, and juicy cherry tomatoes in a luscious creamy Parmesan sauce served over perfectly cooked fettuccine pasta. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that brings together bold flavors and satisfying textures in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh basil
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the fettuccine according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken strips with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add them to the skillet and cook for 5–7 minutes until they are browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Tomatoes: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2–3 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Make Creamy Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Add Spinach and Combine: Add the baby spinach to the skillet and stir until wilted. Return the cooked chicken to the pan, then add the drained fettuccine pasta. Toss everything together thoroughly until the pasta and chicken are well coated with the creamy sauce.
- Serve: Serve the dish warm, garnished with fresh basil leaves or extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter option, substitute half-and-half or evaporated milk for the heavy cream.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes for a richer, more concentrated tomato flavor.
- This dish can be prepared ahead by cooking chicken and pasta separately and combining just before serving.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste as needed.
