Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless chicken breast fillets
• salt (to taste, for seasoning the chicken)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika powder (for the chicken)
• 1 tbsp garlic powder (for the chicken)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (for the chicken)
• 1 tsp black pepper (for the chicken)
• 2 tbsp oil (plus more for cooking the chicken)
• 2 cup unsweetened heavy whipping cream
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp oil (for the sauce)
• 1 shallot or small onion (thinly diced)
• 8 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
• 0.5 red bell pepper (diced)
• salt (to taste, for the sauce)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika powder (for the sauce)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (for the sauce)
• 1 tsp black pepper (for the sauce)
• 0.5 tsp Italian seasoning (for the sauce)
• 1 tsp red chili flakes
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated, for the sauce)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup pasta water (reserved; add if a thinner sauce is desired)
• 1 cup spinach
• 12 cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes
• 8 oz rigatoni pasta
• Parmesan cheese (freshly grated, for garnish)
• 1 tbsp parsley (freshly chopped, for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water for later use.

2. 2

   Place the chicken fillets in a bowl. Add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and 2 tablespoons of oil. Mix until the chicken is well coated.

3. 3

   Heat some additional oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken.

4. 4

   Cook the chicken on both sides for 12–15 minutes, flipping it during cooking, or until fully cooked.

5. 5

   In another pan, heat the butter and 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat.

6. 6

   Once the butter has melted, add the diced shallot or onion and chopped garlic. Sauté for 1 minute, or until fragrant.

7. 7

   Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 1–2 minutes, until mushy and soft.

8. 8

   Add the tomato paste, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and red chili flakes. Mix to combine.

9. 9

   Add the sun-dried tomatoes and mix them into the sauce.

10. 10

    Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream. Mix until everything is well combined.

11. 11

    Add the grated Parmesan cheese and mix until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. Add some of the reserved pasta water if you prefer a thinner sauce.

12. 12

    Add the spinach and cook for 1 minute.

13. 13

    Add the cooked rigatoni to the sauce.

14. 14

    Cut the cooked chicken into pieces and add it to the pasta. Mix well.

15. 15

    Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Serve warm.

Notes

The source does not specify the exact amount of additional cooking oil, the chicken's internal temperature, or a precise sauce consistency beyond personal preference. Follow the pasta package instructions for the pasta cooking time.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• chicken
• creamy
• Italian-inspired
• stovetop
• comfort food
• party food