Creamy Tuscan Chicken Penne Pasta

This creamy Tuscan chicken penne pasta is a comforting one-pot meal that comes together in just 30 minutes! Pan-seared chicken, pasta, fresh spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes all tossed together with a garlic parmesan cream sauce. Sounds too good to be true for an easy weeknight meal, right?!

You all already know I’m the queen of one-pot pasta meals, especially for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner. Cooking the pasta in the same pot with the other ingredients only intensifies the flavor of the dish and helps to build a creamy sauce base with the starches that normally get drained after boiling pasta separately.

What is Tuscan chicken?

Tuscan chicken is an Italian-American dish often containing a light parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms. This type of dish is inspired by the flavorful yet light cooking style of the Tuscany region in Northern Italy.

A few note about the ingredients

chicken

We only need 2 chicken breasts for this recipe, as we will cut them up into chunks to pan fry and mix in with the pasta. You can use boneless chicken thighs in place of the breasts.

onion & Garlic

We will add fresh garlic and half of a diced onion to enhance the flavor of the pasta as it cooks. You can also use 1 large shallot in place of the onion.

sundried tomatoes

The star of the dish in my opinion! Sun-dried tomatoes truly bring the Tuscan flair to this dish with sweet, tangy flavor. These are usually found in the canned tomato section of the grocery store, in a jar packed with oil.

mushrooms

Mushrooms add a delicious earthy flavor and pair incredibly well the tangy sun-dried tomatoes.

THyme & Basil

Fresh herbs bring this dish to life! We add the thyme at the beginning to enhance the flavor of the dish and then top with fresh basil at the end. You can use dried thyme in place of fresh, but if you don’t have fresh basil, just skip the basil altogether.

white wine

You want to use a dry wine, like chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.

penne

I prefer penne in this recipe, but any short pasta will work! Rigatoni or ziti would work well.

Chicken broth

I prefer chicken broth, but you can also use vegetable broth.

Heavy cream

Heavy cream helps to achieve the creamy sauce. You can use half & half for a lighter version.

spinach

I prefer fresh spinach right at the end as it doesn’t break apart like frozen spinach does.

parmesan

I recommend using fresh grated parmesan, but you can also use the pre-grated kind in the cheese section. Just make sure it is finely grated as that will melt better into the sauce.

Step by step creamy tuscan chicken penne pasta

First we season the chicken, A LOT, with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Then we lightly brown all sides to help seal in all the juices while it cooks with the pasta. I recommend using a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid.

Set the chicken aside while you sauté the mushrooms, onion, and garlic in some butter until the mushrooms begin to sweat. Then we add the sun-dried tomatoes and thyme, and bring the mixture to a simmer with the white wine.

Next we add the penne, chicken broth, and return the chicken to the skillet. Bring everything to a boil, and cook for 10-15 minutes until the penne is cooked. You want to make sure you stir the dish every few minutes to keep the pasta from getting sticky. I simmer on low and cover the skillet with a lid during the intervals until I stir.

Once the pasta is done, we add fresh spinach and cover with skillet with a lid to help the spinach to wilt. This should only take a minute or two, then turn off the heat and mix in the grated parmesan.

Recipe substitutions & FAQs

Can i make this dish vegetarian?

You can make this dish vegetarian by skipping the chicken and using vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.

can i use frozen spinach?

You can! Add 1 cup of thawed spinach when you add the penne before simmering. The spinach will break apart, but will still work in this dish.

What can i use in place of mushrooms?

Artichoke hearts would be delicious in this dish! I recommend using the canned quartered kind.

Can i double this recipe?

Absolutely! I would use a bigger stock pot or dutch oven if you are doubling. The pasta make take little longer to cook, just continue stirring and keep an eye on it.

Love this creamy Tuscan chicken penne pasta? Check out some of my other delicious pasta recipes!