Description
Creamy tomato spinach chicken spaghetti blends Italian comfort with fresh Mediterranean flavors. Cheesy, herbal notes complement tender chicken and silky pasta for a quick weeknight dinner you can enjoy with family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 0.5 lbs (226 g) chicken, boneless and skinless (preferably thighs), chopped
- 8 oz (226 g) spaghetti pasta
- 8 oz (226 g) fresh spinach
- 4 roma tomatoes, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped, drained of oil
- 2 tbsps olive oil (drained from sun-dried tomatoes)
- 3 tbsps high-quality olive oil (or oil from the sun-dried tomatoes jar)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat skillet over medium-low flame, introducing sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil to develop a rich, aromatic foundation.
- Chicken Preparation: Add chicken to skillet, generously seasoning with red pepper flakes and salt. Cook thoroughly until meat transitions from pale pink to golden brown, ensuring complete doneness.
- Vegetable Integration: Fold in Roma tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, spinach, and minced garlic. Allow ingredients to meld together, with spinach wilting and releasing its vibrant green essence, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
- Pasta Coordination: Simultaneously cook spaghetti in separate pot until achieving perfect al dente texture. Drain pasta, reserving its delicate strands.
- Fusion and Finishing: Combine pasta with chicken-vegetable mixture, stirring meticulously to ensure comprehensive coating. Gently reheat to marry flavors, performing final seasoning adjustments as needed.
- Elegant Completion: Culminate the dish with a luxurious drizzle of premium olive oil, introducing a final layer of rich, silky complexity to the culinary masterpiece.
Notes
- Select the Right Skillet: Use a wide, spacious pan to ensure even cooking and prevent overcrowding of ingredients.
- Optimize Chicken Cooking: Sear chicken on medium-high heat to achieve a golden-brown exterior while maintaining juicy interior.
- Master Spinach Wilting: Add spinach last and cook briefly to preserve its vibrant color and nutritional value.
- Enhance Flavor Layering: Reserve pasta water to help sauce cling to noodles and create a more cohesive, silky texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 487
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg