This delicious Creamy Tuscan Pasta recipe with Chicken is a quick dinner that's hearty and satisfying. With a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, succulent chicken, and fresh herbs, it's a cozy comfort food that is perfect for weeknight dinners.
Pasta truly is the ultimate comfort food. Especially on chilly nights when you're looking for the perfect winter dinner and don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen.
We love making a rich and satisfying pasta dish like Creamy Sausage Pasta with Peppers, Cheeseburger Pasta, and this flavorful Cajun Shrimp Pasta. And if you like bold pastas like those, you're going to love this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe!
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🌟 Why this recipe works
This pasta dish is a winning recipe that is sure to become part of your family's regular dinner rotation!
- Rich & hearty - With comforting pasta, protein-packed chicken, and a creamy pasta sauce, this is truly satisfying comfort food at its finest.
- Complete meal - You get protein, carbs/a starch, and nourishing vegetables for one of those all in-one dinners.
- Amazing flavor - The rich cream sauce has so much depth of flavor that coats the chicken and pasta. So every bite is packed with absolutely delicious Tuscan flavors.
- Simple recipe - With easy steps and simple ingredients, this is a pasta dish that any home cook can make.
- Freezes well - This pasta dish is a great freezer meal and reheats beautifully.
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Pasta - Rigatoni is the perfect pasta to soak up and hold onto the luscious creamy sauce. But you can also use ziti pasta, penne pasta, or even farfalle pasta.
- Chicken - Use boneless, skinless chicken breast.
- Aromatics - Use diced onions and minced fresh garlic cloves as the flavor base for the cream sauce.
- Heavy cream and milk - You can use all heavy cream (heavy whipping cream) instead, but I find that using equal parts of heavy cream and equal parts of milk results in a sauce that is still rich but not as heavy. For the milk, you can use whole milk, 2% milk, or your favorite non-dairy alternative milk, such as almond milk.
- Tomatoes - You will need both sun-dried tomatoes and fresh tomatoes. For the fresh tomatoes, use cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes, sliced in half.
- Spinach - Fresh spinach boosts the nutritional value in this dish.
- Herbs - Thinly sliced fresh basil adds the kind of lightness and brightness that only fresh herbs can bring to the dish. But the sauce also includes a depth of flavor from dried oregano.
Optional ingredients: you can top servings with red pepper flakes for a little spice, and/or grated parmesan cheese.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
The full list of ingredients and detailed cooking instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are step-by-step photos to help you make the best creamy tuscan pasta.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of water according to package directions until al dente.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the chicken.
- Cook the chicken.
- Then transfer cooked chicken to a bowl.
5. Lower to medium heat and add butter to the pan.
6. Add and cook the onions and sun-dried tomatoes.
7. Pour in the heavy cream and milk.
8. Add the spinach and cherry tomatoes.
9. Reduce to low heat and stir in the cooked pasta and cooked chicken.
10. Stir until the pasta and chicken are coated with the sauce, and cook for a couple of minutes to allow the sauce to soak into all of the ingredients.
Garnish with sliced fresh basil and sprinkled grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
You can easily omit the chicken. If you do this, you can add extra spinach and fresh tomatoes if you like.
The best way to reheat pasta is to heat in a skillet with a little added olive oil and/or cream, until heated through. You can also microwave leftovers in microwave safe bowl with a little olive oil and cream to help add moisture back to the pasta as it reheats.
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
🍽 Serving ideas
I think this hearty tuscan pasta recipe is a complete meal on its own. But it's made even better when served with side dishes like Air Fryer Garlic Bread, Broccoli Crunch Salad, or Air Fryer Broccoli.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
The creamy garlic sauce of this pasta dish is given a deep richness thanks to the sun-dried tomatoes. Pair a medium-bodied Chianti can be a good option. Chianti's acidity and moderate tannins can complement the savory flavors of the chicken and pasta while providing a nice contrast to the creamy sauce.
If you're in the mood for white wine, pair this with a dry white wine like a lightly oaked Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- Large pot - Use a large pot to cook the pasta.
- Large skillet - You'll need a large skillet to cook the chicken and make the sauce. I use my Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Casserole Pan.
- Wooden spoon - Use a wooden spoon to cook and stir together the ingredients.
More delicious pasta recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Creamy Tuscan Pasta Recipe with Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small 1-inch pieces (about 2 large chicken breasts)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup lightly drained sun-dried tomatoes, chopped into small pieces (about one 6-ounce jar)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 1½ cups milk
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1 Tablespoon thinly sliced basil leaves (chiffonade)
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the chicken and cook until just cooked through, about 4-6 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium heat. In the same skillet, add the butter. When most of the butter has melted, add the onions and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for about 3 minutes, allowing the onions and sun-dried tomatoes to soften.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, just until the garlic is fragrant and soft.
- Add the tomato paste, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Slowly pour in the heavy cream and milk, stirring to combine.
- Add the spinach and parmesan cheese; stir.
- Reduce the heat to low, then return the cubed chicken to the skillet and add the pasta. Stir and cook for about 1-2 minutes to allow the chicken to soak up the sauce flavors. Serve immediately, garnished with sliced basil leaves.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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