Description
This Creamy Ground Chicken Pasta with Spinach is a comforting and satisfying weeknight meal that comes together in no time. With tender ground chicken, fresh spinach, and a rich cream sauce, it’s a dish the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 8 oz medium-sized pasta (penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Get a large pot of salted water boiling for your pasta. Once boiling, add your chosen pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about a cup of starchy pasta water before draining the pasta and setting it aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil, then add the ground chicken, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook until fully browned, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside, leaving any browned bits in the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium. If needed, add another drizzle of olive oil to the skillet. Add the finely diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the fresh spinach to the skillet in batches if necessary, stirring until all the spinach has wilted completely, which takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and bring back to a low simmer. Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Season with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
- Return the cooked ground chicken to the skillet along with the drained pasta. Toss everything together thoroughly, ensuring every strand of pasta and piece of chicken is coated in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Don't overcook the pasta; it should be firm al dente. Use freshly grated cheese for the best texture and flavor. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end can brighten the dish.