This creamy chicken spinach pasta recipe is a total comfort food dinner! It comes together quickly - it can be on your table in about 30 minutes.
This spinach chicken pasta is great for busy weeknights. The chicken melts in your mouth, and the spinach adds some freshness to a dish that's otherwise fairly rich.
You may also like my chicken bacon spinach pasta recipe - it's quite similar. Or my easy creamed spinach!
The little bit of lemon juice and Dijon mustard add some extra "je ne sais quoi" to the recipe. It's kinda hard to describe, but I love adding a little bit of Dijon to various recipes to give them that extra something-something. It's one of my favorite cooking tricks, and if you've made some of my recipes already, you're probably encountered my love for Dijon. 🙂
How to make chicken spinach garlic pasta
- Boil your pasta water (you can use any shape you wish);
- Prep your chicken. Cut it up, season it, and coat it in flour;
- Cook the chicken in the butter and oil until it's no longer pink on the outside, then take it out of the pan;
- Start the sauce. Add the garlic, chicken broth, lemon juice, Dijon, and Italian seasoning to the pan;
- Finish cooking the chicken. Add the chicken, spinach, and cream to the pan and cook it until the chicken's done;
- Almost done! Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce. Stir in the parmesan. Enjoy!
Other creamy chicken pasta recipes: creamy chicken pesto pasta, this creamy balsamic chicken bacon mushroom pasta, my creamy Tuscan chicken pasta.
Hope you will enjoy this creamy chicken spinach parmesan pasta!
Questions? Ask me in the comments below.
Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 chicken breasts cut into small bite-size pieces
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Flour, for dredging
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 dash Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 5 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the pasta. Cook it al dente according to package instructions.
- Cut up the chicken and season it with salt & pepper. Coat the pieces with flour.
- Add the butter and oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan's hot, add the chicken and cook it until it's no longer pink on the outside. Take the chicken out of the pan and set it aside.
- Take the pan off the heat and add the garlic, chicken broth, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Italian seasoning. Return the pan to the heat and let it bubble for a minute or so. Scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add the chicken, cream, and spinach to the pan. Let it cook for around 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. You may want to reduce the heat if it's bubbling a lot or if the sauce is thickening too fast.
- Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Stir in the parmesan. Season with more salt & pepper if needed.
Notes
- I've made this without the parmesan cheese before, and it will still taste good if you want to leave it out for whatever reason.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Stephanie says
This is a huge hit at my house. Even my picky ASD kid loves it. I do sub stone ground mustard because it’s what we always have in hand and it’s perfect. It’s in our regular rotation and I’ve made it several times. Thanks.
Natasha says
Fantastic!! I'm so glad that it's a new favorite for you guys! 🙂
Donna says
Delish!!!
Natasha says
Thank you!!
Talia says
My favorite pasta dish to make 🙂 it turns out perfect every time and I actually don't add any mustard but it's great either way. Super easy and yummy.
Natasha says
Yay!! I'm so happy to hear that, Talia!
Niks says
A really yummy recipe. I make pasta a lot and this is a nice change from regular pasta dishes.
Natasha says
So glad you liked it, Niks!!!
Natalie says
Way better with parm but needed some salt. Family loved it.
Natasha says
Hi! Yes, of course... I never make a recipe without adding salt. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Brooklyn says
Delicious! Has to be one of the best pasta dishes I’ve made.
Natasha says
Thank you so much!
Tereza says
I have made this recipe for about 20-30 times already! And I don't even have to look at the ingredients anymore, I just know. That's how much I love it. 😍🥰
Natasha says
Aww that makes me so happy!! Thanks for letting me know, Tereza!
Woxy says
This recipe was delicious. Probably one of the best pastas I've ever had.
Thank you!
Natasha says
That makes me happy! Thank you! 😀
Jadin says
Do you know the nutrition facts of this recipe? How many calories each serving size is?
Natasha says
Hi! I just added it for you. Please keep in mind that it's only an estimate... like I guessed it would be 2 tablespoons of flour used, and the size of chicken breasts can vary, and so on. Nutrition info is for 1/4 of the recipe. If you're requiring it for health reasons, I strongly advise you to weigh out the actual ingredients you're using, but this will give you a ballpark figure. Hope it helps! 🙂
Maria says
This is such a quick and easy recipe to make and it's super delicious! The whole family loved it!
Natasha says
I'm so glad to hear that, Maria!
Janet K Vakili says
Great recipe. I did not have flour so I rolled the chicken in whole wheat waffle mix. Oh my. The sugar in the waffle mix quickly caramelized and sealed the chicken breast, making it moist and delicious . May not be the standard, but I found the final dish more visually appealing. If you are not a purist, give it a try.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!
Jayda Posante says
This was quick, easy and so delicious! The dijon (which I just added a squirt's worth in) brought so much flavor and depth to the dish. Definitely adding it to the dinner rotation! Thanks : )
Natasha says
Excellent! You're welcome!
Max says
I just made this for lunch and it's so good! Left out the mustard because neither me not my gf like it, it was so flavourful even without that I'm sure it's amazing with, if it's to your tastes.
Finding food I like is such a struggle, thank you for this amazing recipe!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! That's great. Yeah, I mean the mustard isn't 100% necessary, but it gives the sauce a little more dimension.
Ilardo says
This was one of the best things I've ever tried making. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Natasha says
Fantastic!! I'm so glad it worked for you 😀
Margaret Walsh says
Your recipe calls for heavy whipping cream, not milk.
Natasha says
I'm not sure if you're asking me a question? Yes... it calls for cream.
Angela Desrosiers says
Can you substitute heavy whipping cream for whole milk?
Natasha says
Hi! I don't recommend it. There's a chance it'll curdle, and you'll have to find another way to thicken the sauce... but if you're confident at adapting recipes, you could give it a try.
Kat says
You could make a Béchamel sauce first and drizzle lemon on the chicken after it’s cooked to avoid curdling.
Ramona says
Great recipe! I substituted chicken and basil sausage and fresh kale instead since I didn't have chicken or spinach. So yummy!!
Natasha says
Sounds good to me!!
Kathy says
Can you use rotisserie chicken for this recipe
Natasha says
I suppose, but I'd add it in towards the end so it doesn't overcook.
Zuzia says
Heaven in mouth xx
Natasha says
🙂
Helen says
Very easy, and absolutely delicious!
Natasha says
So happy you liked it, Helen!
Betty Graves says
I made this last week and it is already requested to make tonight. Delicious.
Thanks.
Natasha says
Yay!! That's great. Thanks for letting me know!
Kendall says
Incredible. We used blackened shrimp instead of the chicken and it’s some of the best pasta we’ve eaten.
Natasha says
That sounds delicious!! Love blackened shrimp!
Mr C says
What do you mean by ‘Italian seasoning?
Is it a jarred ingredient? Substitute with?
Natasha says
Italian seasoning is a common herb blend. It's used in a lot of recipes as an easy way to not have to measure out a whole bunch of different herbs. You can buy it at most grocery stores in the herbs/spice section. A quick Google search tells me it has these herbs, but it does vary brand to brand: basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, sage, or coriander. I buy McCormick brand. If you don't want to buy it, I recommend adding a small pinch of your favorite dried herbs.
Diane says
This turned out really good! Would definitely make this again!
Natasha says
Great!! I am happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to comment, Diane.
Maureen Main says
Tried this dish for the first time. Absolutely lovely and creamy and very easy to make. Will definitely make it again. Thanks
Natasha says
I'm so glad to hear that!
Takia Police says
Good day.. what are the calories per serving for this meal
Sue M. says
Very good, simple. Husband even remarked it was tasty.
Natasha says
That's what I like to hear! 🙂
queendiva says
Made this for the first time tonight. A winner!
The only change I made was to sub white wine for the lemon juice. I love that this meal is made from items already on hand!
Next time I will add a minced shallot with the garlic. I think the Dijon mustard is a must have for this dish. Glad that I have leftovers for another dinner during the week. Cook once-eat twice.
This one is going into my rotation. Thank you for sharing.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you liked it!! 🙂 You're very welcome.
Susie Anderson says
I tried reading others comments, I am not a fan of Dijon mustard can I skip or use yellow mustard. I've used one other of your recipe, and was right on point. One comment did say honey mustard but I've never had that either.
Natasha says
Hi! Sure, you could definitely try replacing the mustard, or even leave it out altogether. I use Dijon in sauces to bring out some of the other flavors (it doesn't taste mustardy), but if you don't have any, that's totally fine. 🙂
Abbie T says
Yummy! I had typed in ‘chicken spinach pasta’ (that’s the main ingredients I had on-hand) in my search engine and your recipe was one that showed up with great reviews. I actually had everything here at home and didn’t need to leave to make it!! I was so pleased with how easy this was to follow. Glad I didn’t use a non-stick pan. All those bits were wonderful and a little crunchy! I was going to add some bacon and totally spaced it 🤦🏼♀️ But the result was great. We have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. My two year old loved it also!! I’m posting photos and the recipe on my FB page. Thanks again for sharing! Would love to find some more of your time/family friendly recipes!
Natasha says
Awesome!! I'm so glad you found me. 🙂 Yup, the whole blog is filled with easy recipes, so let me know if you make any more! XO
Allie H says
Hiiii! Made this for supper tonight, with a ton of leftovers. So delicious! Are you able to freeze the leftover portions?
Natasha says
Hi Allie!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. In my experience, cream sauces and cooked pasta don't freeze all that well. When it's thawed, the pasta often goes soggy and the cream sauce can separate. With that said, it doesn't hurt to give it a try if you'll end up throwing it out anyway. I recommend reheating on a low heat if you do try that. And you may need to stir in a little more cream when warming it up.
Rachael says
Dumb question, do you put the spinach in uncooked?
I’m excited to make this tonight!
Natasha says
Hi! You bet! On any of my recipes unless I specify otherwise, assume any ingredient is raw/uncooked. Let me know if you like the recipe! ♥️
Rhonda says
Hey, can you tell me the portions in this recipe?
Natasha says
Hi Rhonda! Not sure what you mean exactly? It's all listed in the recipe card (ingredients, instructions, it says it serves 4 people, etc.). You would have had to scroll past it to leave your comment so maybe you just missed it? Let me know if you're still having issues.
Rebecca Allen says
Hi,
What can I use as cream as it needs to be dairy free and gluten free ?
Thank you
Natasha says
Hi Rebecca! Honestly, I don't test gluten-free or dairy-free alternatives, so I really can't give you any good suggestions I'm afraid. 🙁 Especially since this recipe is cream-based (vs. just adding a splash of cream), I really don't want to guess on anything and have you waste ingredients.
Ashely says
I made this with Coconut milk tonight and it was amazing!
Natasha says
That's awesome!
Judee says
That’s what I always use to replace dairy in recipes. It’s great.
CJ says
Could you grill the chicken on the BBQ instead and add it in afterwards?
Thank you 🙂
Natasha says
Hi! You definitely could, but then I'd make sure to add some flour to the sauce to thicken it. Perhaps make a roux (flour and butter).
Paula says
Made this without Italian dressing & had to substitute Dijon mustard with honey mustard because that was all I had in my pantry & fridge. Overall, tasty but a bit dry. Not sure how that happened though 🤔 Nevertheless, hubs loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Natasha says
Hi Paula! So glad it was enjoyed. Sometimes if you cook cream sauces for slightly too long or at a little too high a heat, it dries out faster. Next time you could try cooking it a little less or perhaps add a splash of pasta water at the end.
Paula says
Thanks for the tip, Natasha!
BARBARA says
Yes, we did it. Was wonderful
Natasha says
Great!!
Danielle Miller says
Instead of using heavy whipping cream could you use half and half or no? Thank you.
Natasha says
Hi Danielle! I normally would not recommend it, but I understand that it can be hard to find various ingredients these days. If you feel comfortable with a thinner sauce or you are good at tweaking sauces (more flour/cornstarch/cooking longer) to thicken it to the point where you're happy with it, then definitely give it a try. I know lots of people have tweaked my heavy cream recipes with half-and-half and enjoyed them, so it's definitely worth a try.
Clarabelle says
Hi there! If I were to use frozen spinach, would I want to defrost it beforehand or just add it while it’s still frozen? Thank you!
Natasha says
Hi! Does your frozen spinach come in those sort of pucks? I’d definitely thaw it first and squeeze as much of the water out as possible.
Alex says
Hi, made this tonight for the family, they loved it, fighting over left over tubes of pasta in the pan 😂
Very tasty, chicken melted in your mouth! 5* pasta dish that will def be making again!
Natasha says
I'm so happy they all enjoyed it hahah! Thanks for letting me know!
neasa says
so amazing simple and delicous , would really recomend. Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Natasha says
You're very welcome! XO
Orla says
Forgot to rate..
Natasha says
Thank you! XO
Orla says
I just made this and all I can say is WOW! This must be one of the nicest things I've ever made, restaurant quality! The only thing I didn't like was the texture from the flour on the chicken, it was gloopy (I used gluten free maybe that was why), I must try thickening the sauce with the flour instead of coating the chicken. But absolutely fabulous, 110%!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you liked it, Orla! Hmm yeah maybe the gluten-free flour could've done it - I confess I just use regular all-purpose flour and haven't tested gluten-free flour at all in any recipe that I can recall. You could also try browning the chicken for a little longer (with the flour coating it).
Gail says
Made this for the family tonight for the first time I did tweek it a bit adding slightly more dijon and lemon juice however everyone cleaned their bowls... Utterly delicious.. Give it a try
Natasha says
So glad you liked it!
Teri says
I made this gluten free by using almond + tapioca flour for the chicken and gluten free penne. It turned out fantastic! Delicious recipe.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you liked it!! Thanks for letting me know! 😀
Brooke says
Thanks so much for this recipe! I’m far from a good cook but this puppy made me look it yeey :p
Super easy & incredibly delicious, my kinda recipe!
I think i might add some sneaky bacon next time just because... bacon.
Thanks again for making me look good hehe
Natasha says
You're very welcome!! Haha I am so glad you found it easy to make!! 🙂
Stephanie says
What is your favorite Italian seasoning brand?
Natasha says
McCormick ☺️
Esmeralda says
Made this after years of buying premade sauce and ending disappointed. Literally tasted better than Olive Garden, I’m making this sauce from now on OMG
Natasha says
Aww that's awesome!! Thanks for letting me know!
Leonora Gonzales says
I just made this tonight and my whole family loved it! My twin boys are usually so picky with what I make and they ate every single bite off their plate! My hubby said that this recipe is a keeper! Thank you!
Natasha says
So pleased to hear it! 🙂
Richard Cockbain says
I decided to play around a bit and added small slices of Sun Dried Tomato and fried onion pieces.
PERFECT!
Natasha says
Good idea!! Yum!!
Fawn says
This was so easy and delicious. My young children even really liked it. I am always looking for ways to incorporate (hide) veggies that they would normally avoid.
Natasha says
I am so happy to hear that, Fawn!! 🙂
Liv says
Made this for my family as I'm vegetarian, they loved it! Will use again x
Natasha says
Wonderful! 🙂
Amanda says
So quick and yummy! Always on the hunt for something that can be cooked and on the table in under an hour.
Natasha says
So pleased you liked it, Amanda! 😀
Kyrsten says
This was so so good! An easy dish for me to whip up with GF pasta and GF flour for me and my family! The dijon and lemon give it a unique flavor that stands apart from the average creamy alfredo-type of recipes flooding pinterest.
Can't wait to try this recipe again, thanks!!
Natasha says
So glad you were able to make it GF, Kyrsten!
Nicole Burns says
I did too with GF fettuccine and the whole family loved it even though i ommited the mustard. Thank you!
Natasha says
So glad to hear it!
Margarita Munoz says
This was so delicious, so easy, so simple, and so perfect! Made this with leftover pasta, some heavy cream + half & half (didn't have enough cream), when it wasn't thickening, threw in a little arrowroot powder and voila. The only downside is I had to share this dish 🙂 Saving this one to repeat in the very near future. Thank you!
Natasha says
Wonderful! So glad it was a hit. 😊
Judith says
I made this tonight. It was delicious!!! The only thing I did different is add more lemon juice and chicken broth. Also. Not as much pasta so I would have more sauce. Next time, I would double the sauce.
Natasha says
I am so happy you liked it, Judith!
Rachel says
Made this for my family, Natasha, and they loved it!! Many thanks. Liked the additional lemon and mustard idea. Like the look of some of your other recipes so I'll be following you. Thanks again.
Natasha says
So pleased to hear it, Rachel! You're very welcome. 🙂 Thanks for following along!
Candy Timberlake says
Made this tonight for dinner my daughter needs the spinach for her iron so I made it. I had to chop up the spinach first and the chicken for her (she’s 19 months) but it was a success with my 3 year old as well!!! I added a touch more lemon and Parmesan cheese!!! Me and my husband enjoyed it as well!!
Natasha says
That makes me so happy!!
Simon knox says
Hi Natasha,
I made this tonight for my family and it was truly wonderful. Thanks for a great recipe I will be trying others from your menu 😉
Natasha says
Yay! So happy to hear it. Thanks, Simon 😀
Claus Thelen says
Hej,
why do you not tell us the amounts in Grams, Kilograms, LIter and Mililiter...
I do not even know how much is 1 ounce...., how big is the cup? A small one or a big one?
Kind regards from Afrika,
Claus
Natasha says
Hi Claus! I'm in North America, so that's why I use the US measurement system (most of my readers are from the USA). A cup is 236 ml. An ounce is 28g... so the spinach would be 142g, for example. He's a handy website that shows how to do many of the conversions: https://bit.ly/2AKTQ39 - hope this helps!
emily says
Do you leave the butter in the pan or do you take it out after removing it from the heat?
Natasha says
Leave it in 😊
Natasha's Sister says
Hi I'd like you to deliver this to me but without chicken thanks.
Natasha says
No.