Tomato spinach chicken pasta made with tomatoes, pan-seared chicken, spinach, pasta, and cream. This creamy chicken pasta is packed with fresh vegetables, proteins, and herbs. You can make this quick and easy pasta in under 30 minutes!
If you love quick and easy pasta recipes like Spicy Italian Chicken Pasta or Cajun Chicken Pasta then this recipe is just for you. It is a quick weeknight dinner recipe.
This creamy chicken spinach pasta is so addictive that you are definitely going to love it. If your kids are fussy eaters like mine then this tomato spinach chicken pasta recipe is a big winner. They will love to have it without any complaints.
Recipe features
- Quick & easy to make - This recipe comes together in just 30 minutes. All the ingredients to make this pasta dish are easily available in your kitchen pantry.
- Healthy - This pasta is packed up with fresh vegetables, protein (chicken), and herbs. There's spinach in this recipe which is a superfood. It is good for the eyes, skin, and bones. It is an excellent source of iron that helps your body makes hemoglobin.
- Easy to customize - see the ingredient notes below for alternative ingredients. You can add or skip the ingredients as per your choice.
- A good way to use leftovers - you can use leftover grilled chicken to make this chicken spinach tomato pasta.
Ingredients & Substiutions
- Tomatoes - Fresh tomatoes preferably plum tomatoes or Roma tomatoes are the best choice. Rinse it well with water and grind them to a fine paste. Fresh tomato puree is ready. However, you can substitute fresh tomatoes with canned tomatoes. Or use tomato paste.
- Chicken- Boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Spinach - Fresh spinach is the best. Nothing can replace it. You can substitute it with frozen spinach. Or substitute it with fresh basil leaves. If using frozen spinach make sure to thaw it properly.
- Pasta - I have used Rotini pasta for this recipe. You can use Penne or any other pasta of your choice.
- Onion and garlic - Basic ingredients for making this pasta dish.
- Tomato Sauce - I have used tomato sauce in the recipe to enhance the tomato flavor. The sauce adds a sweet and sour tomato flavor to the pasta.
- Oil - I have used olive oil here. You can use any cooking oil.
- Heavy cream - It makes the sauce creamy. I have made it without cream and it tastes equally good. Just add butter or olive oil when you finished cooking the pasta.
- Italian seasoning - It adds beautiful flavor and aroma to the pasta recipe. You can skip it if you do not have it. Or simply use ½ teaspoon oregano and ½ teaspoon thyme.
- Flavoring - Add salt, red pepper flakes, & black pepper powder as per taste. If you do not prefer spicy pasta skip red pepper flakes.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make tomato spinach chicken pasta (with Step-wise photos)
- Cook pasta as per the instructions given on the package.
- Heat a skillet with 3 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and season it with salt and pepper. Stir fry and cook until the chicken is cooked. Remove it to a plate. Cover and keep it aside.
- In the same pan, add onion and sauté until translucent.
- Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning. Saute it for 30 seconds.
- Add fresh tomato puree, tomato sauce, pepper, and salt. Stir to combine. Let it cook until the sauce comes to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream.
- Stir continuously until it combines with the sauce. Cook until it comes to a gentle boil.
- Add the cooked chicken and spinach. Stir, and set the heat to medium. Cook until the spinach wilts.
- Add the cooked pasta. Combine with the sauce.
- Serve this tomato spinach chicken pasta immediately with grated parmesan cheese.
Tips to make Best Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
- Cook the pasta until al dente - Cook it as per the instructions given on the package. Mushy or overcooked pasta will not taste good.
- Do not overcook the chicken breast. It may turn hard or chewy. You can use a food thermometer to check if the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
- You can use leftover grilled chicken to make this pasta.
- While making the sauce cook the tomatoes on high heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes. It will thicken the tomatoes and the water content from it will evaporate.
- Add heavy cream to the tomato sauce at low heat. Combine the cream with the sauce, stirring continuously. Cook at low heat until the sauce comes to a gentle boil. Use only heavy cream as there are chances that low-fat cream may curdle.
- You can add any vegetable of your choice like mushrooms, bell pepper, etc.
If you like this recipe, you may also like these amazing pasta recipes
- Spicy Chicken Pasta
- Spaghetti Marinara
- Penne Arrabiata
- Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino
- Vegetable Lo Mein
- Egg Hakka Noodles
FAQ
Yes, you can. Just add 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil at the end. Stir the pasta and serve. This pasta tastes equally good without cream.
There is a difference in the fat content. Heavy cream has more fat content than heavy whipping cream. You can use whipping cream instead of heavy cream for this recipe.
Yes, you can. Thaw it and squeeze the excess water and then add it to the pasta recipe.
Serving Suggestions
It is a complete meal in itself. You can serve some salads on the side.
Storage suggestions
- Let the pasta cool down completely. Transfer the leftover to an airtight container and refrigerate. Consume within 2 days. Do not freeze it.
- Make sure to store the leftovers within 2 hours of making the pasta dish.
Variations that you can try
- Use Tofu or Paneer instead of chicken to make a vegetarian version of this pasta.
- You can use grilled shrimp or prawns to substitute for chicken.
- Skip chicken to make creamy tomato spinach pasta.
- Use fresh basil or mushrooms instead of spinach to make this pasta.
More Chicken Pasta Recipes You'll Love
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Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta
Equipment
- Heavy bottom pan or skillet
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon oil
- 200 grams pasta uncooked
- 1 chicken breast chopped, or use boneless chicken thights
- 2 teaspoon crushed black pepper, divided
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1.5 teaspoon garlic finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (skip if you do not prefer spicy dishes)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (skip or add ½ teaspoon oregano and ½ teaspoon thyme)
- 1.5 cups fresh tomato pureed
- ¼ cup tomato sauce
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 100 gram fresh spinach
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta as per the instructions given on the package.
- Heat a skillet with 3 tablespoon oil over medium high heat.
- Add the chicken and season it with salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir fry and cook until the chicken is cooked. Remove it to a plate. Cover and keep it aside.
- In the same pan, add onion and sauté until translucent.
- Add garlic, red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. Saute it for 30 seconds.
- Add fresh tomato puree, tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon pepper and salt. Stir to combine. Let it cook until the sauce comes to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream and stir continuously until it combines with the sauce. Cook until it comes to a gentle boil.
- Add the cooked chicken and spinach. Stir, set the heat to medium. Cook until the spinach wilts.
- Add the cooked pasta. Combine with the sauce.
- Serve immediately with grated parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
- Cook the pasta until al dente - Cook it as per the instructions given on the package. Mushy or overcooked pasta will not taste good.
- Do not overcook the chicken breast. It may turn hard or chewy. You can use a food thermometer to check if the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
- You can use leftover grilled chicken to make this pasta.
- While making the sauce cook the tomatoes on high heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes. It will thicken the tomatoes and the water content from it will evaporate.
- Add heavy cream to the tomato sauce at low heat. Combine the cream with the sauce, stirring continuously. Cook at low heat until the sauce comes to a gentle boil. Use only heavy cream as there are chances that low-fat cream may curdle.
- You can add any vegetable of your choice like mushrooms, bell pepper, etc.
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