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    Home » Pasta

    Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta

    Published: May 17, 2019 / Updated: Feb 28, 2022 / 186 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    chicken spinach pasta in a white bowl

    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!

    creamy chicken spinach pasta ready to eat

    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. 🙂

    closeup of creamy chicken spinach pasta in pan

    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.

    close-up of chicken spinach pasta

    Hope you will enjoy this creamy chicken spinach parmesan pasta! 

    Questions? Ask me in the comments below.

    chicken spinach pasta in a white bowl

    Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta

    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.
    4.97 from 52 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 683 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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.
       

    Nutrition

    Calories: 683kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 39gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 172mgSodium: 481mgPotassium: 840mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 4433IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 242mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword creamy chicken spinach pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad
    Easy Greek Pasta Salad »

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    1. Ladonna Clatworthy says

      June 3, 2023 at 7:01 PM

      Wow absolutely delicious 😋 made it with leftover chicken from last night's roasted bird, also added white wine . Thank you for this time saver.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 3, 2023 at 7:16 PM

        You're very welcome!! 😀

        Reply
    2. Robyn Preston says

      April 5, 2023 at 12:18 PM

      5 stars
      I made this recipe because I had a lot of spinach that was going to go bad and it turned out to be the best pasta recipe I’ve ever had and I’m not a pasta fan 10/10

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        April 5, 2023 at 1:27 PM

        Wow! Thanks so much for your kind review, Robyn! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Danielle Graham says

      April 2, 2023 at 5:29 PM

      5 stars
      Was looking for a chicken and spinach pasta recipe and this one was a winner! I had some leftover rotisserie chicken so I subbed that and added it to the sauce. I also subbed white wine for the chicken broth. It came out so good and was so quick and easy!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 2, 2023 at 6:18 PM

        Excellent!! Thanks for your review, Danielle!

        Reply
    4. Holly Young says

      March 6, 2023 at 2:20 PM

      A new family favorite. My son, who literally eats ZERO vegetables, even loves this. HALLELUJAH!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 6, 2023 at 2:39 PM

        Well that's awesome to hear!! 😀

        Reply
    5. Theresa Youngblood says

      February 7, 2023 at 2:51 PM

      5 stars
      I made this today,reduced the penne to 6 oz. Followed directions as written with one exception, As pasta absorbs liquids, I increased the chicken broth to 2 cups. ( I made early in the day for a later meal)
      Sure’ nuff, the pasta absorbed lots of “juice”, but was perfect for dinner.
      I will pass this recipe on to friends! Keep on cooking! I’m . 86 yo & still LUV to cook & try new recipes. Thanks 😊

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 7, 2023 at 8:22 PM

        I'm so glad you liked it!! 🙂 You're very welcome!

        Reply
    6. Aart de Jong says

      February 1, 2023 at 8:23 PM

      Our picky grand kids went for seconds so yes; a keeper!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 1, 2023 at 10:38 PM

        Wonderful!! Thank you! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Carole Popik says

      December 3, 2022 at 1:09 PM

      Can this be frozen? Before or after baking?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 3, 2022 at 3:21 PM

        For something like this I don't recommend freezing. Cream sauces don't tend to freeze/thaw too well, and chicken can dry out. If you happen to have leftovers, you could try freezing some and see if you're ok with the results, though.

        Reply
    8. Rose says

      November 21, 2022 at 1:56 PM

      Made this a few different times and turned out amazing everytime

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 21, 2022 at 2:09 PM

        That's great to hear, Rose! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Audrey H. says

      August 3, 2022 at 8:17 PM

      5 stars
      My granddaughter is staying with us for the week. We cooked this together and she said "it's soooo good!" She went for seconds 🙂 Thanks for the quick dinner idea! It was a hit!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 3, 2022 at 10:22 PM

        Aww that makes me so happy!! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Paris says

      July 22, 2022 at 8:20 PM

      It turned out really good! I was missing lemon juice but I had everything else and it came out perfectly. Thank you so much for the quick dinner idea!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        July 22, 2022 at 10:32 PM

        You're welcome, Paris! So glad you enjoyed it!!

        Reply
    11. Susan Stunes says

      May 25, 2022 at 9:10 AM

      5 stars
      So delicious!! I definitely will make this often!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 25, 2022 at 10:36 AM

        That's great to hear!!

        Reply
    12. Deidre W. says

      March 21, 2022 at 10:58 AM

      5 stars
      I didn’t have everything on hand, but I made due with what I did have. This was a quick and delicious meal!!!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 21, 2022 at 11:19 AM

        So glad it worked out, Deidre!! 🙂

        Reply
    13. Kate Cassar says

      March 16, 2022 at 12:45 PM

      This was delish!! I didn't have cream so I used plain yoghurt instead and it worked well. I will definitely be making this again. I doubled the recipe as I have three hungry males in the house!! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 16, 2022 at 12:52 PM

        You're welcome, Kate! Glad it was a crowd-pleaser!

        Reply
    14. Suzette Van Aken says

      March 12, 2022 at 8:20 PM

      5 stars
      This was fast, simple and delicious. I divided the recipe as I’m cooking for one, but this is definitely a dish to be shared. Thank you. I’ll check out your website for more offerings.

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 12, 2022 at 8:29 PM

        Thrilled you enjoyed it, Suzette! We're happy you found S&L 🙂

        Reply
    15. Caroline R Young says

      March 5, 2022 at 9:24 PM

      4 stars
      This was a good recipe, although I needed to tweak it a little. As written, it was just a little on the bland side for me. I used a whole teaspoon of the dijon mustard, added basil and red pepper flakes, and used only half of the parmesan. For those who said they don't like dijon mustard and omitted it: the mustard really enhances this recipe. It cuts through the richness of the sauce and brightens the flavors of the other ingredients. It is not discernible in the final dish. Do not substitute yellow mustard or honey mustard - it's a totally different flavor profile from dijon, and will detract from the flavors. Also, I tasted the sauce before adding the parmesan at the end, and it was delicious even without the cheese. Next time I make this, I will just use the parmesan as an optional sprinkle when serving, instead of cooking it into the dish.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 5, 2022 at 9:47 PM

        I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your detailed review!

        Reply
    16. Juanita says

      February 2, 2022 at 7:00 PM

      5 stars
      Not to be a recipe hack, but I added sliced cherry tomatoes for that visual and taste surprise. Excellent! Thanks for sharing…

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        February 2, 2022 at 9:46 PM

        Sounds good to me!! Really happy you enjoyed the recipe, Juanita 🙂

        Reply
    17. Toni Mason says

      January 15, 2022 at 3:51 PM

      5 stars
      You are right! That little bit of Dijon and lemon juice makes it.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 15, 2022 at 4:17 PM

        🙂

        Reply
    18. Deb says

      January 4, 2022 at 4:53 AM

      Do you just pour the cream in or do you have to whip it?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 4, 2022 at 9:59 AM

        You just pour the cream right in. I would definitely specify if you had to do that - don't worry! 🙂 Hope you enjoy the recipe!

        Reply
    19. Jules says

      January 3, 2022 at 4:41 PM

      5 stars
      This is fabulous! Of course, I dumped most of a container of parm in at the end instead of measuring. 🙂 Delicious!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 3, 2022 at 6:20 PM

        Hahaha nothing wrong with that!! 😀

        Reply
    20. Mikki says

      November 7, 2021 at 4:08 PM

      5 stars
      This was delicious and super easy to make!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 7, 2021 at 4:13 PM

        I'm thrilled to hear that, Mikki! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

        Reply
    21. Alex Whitlow says

      November 5, 2021 at 12:38 PM

      5 stars
      So good! Super easy and quick. Cannot wait to make it again!

      Subbed the heavy cream for goat cheese and almond milk, Romano cheese for Parmesan, used chickpea pasta noodles, and didn't bread the chicken to accommodate for GF and DF and was amazed at how good it was!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 5, 2021 at 12:42 PM

        I'm so glad you were able to tweak it and it worked out, Alex!

        Reply
    22. Ligita Heydenreich says

      October 28, 2021 at 8:33 AM

      5 stars
      Delish dish !!! Fast , easy and delishious 🙂

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        October 28, 2021 at 9:13 AM

        Wonderful to hear, Ligita!!

        Reply
    23. Numz says

      October 10, 2021 at 2:09 PM

      Recipe was excellent the first time I made it. However, after I added milk to the stock, the sauce began to curdle a bit. Would you happen to know why this would happen ?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 10, 2021 at 2:36 PM

        Hi! Milk curdles when it's cooked at a high temperature. I'm guessing that's why? That's one of the reasons why I use heavy cream in recipes like this one (I rarely use milk for sauces unless I'm making a roux).

        Reply
    24. Jason B. says

      October 4, 2021 at 7:14 PM

      5 stars
      Just made this dish and it turned out great! Recipe read well. Easy prep. Taste awesome thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 4, 2021 at 7:46 PM

        You're very welcome!! Glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    25. Ariana Zeeman says

      September 27, 2021 at 7:19 PM

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! Only took about 30 minutes like the recipe said and turned out amazing! Definitely a new favorite for me

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 27, 2021 at 7:45 PM

        Yay!! So glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    26. Judith Jackson says

      September 21, 2021 at 6:55 PM

      Could you use sour cream,

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 22, 2021 at 9:10 AM

        I don't think it'll work out quite the same, and it'll be more tangy. I guess you could experiment, but sour cream can curdle quite easily if it boils.

        Reply
    27. Gillian Meldrum says

      September 21, 2021 at 10:58 AM

      5 stars
      Delicious replaced the chicken broth with white wine

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 21, 2021 at 11:54 AM

        So glad you liked it, Gillian! Thanks for writing me a review. 😀

        Reply
    28. Mary Osborne says

      September 9, 2021 at 8:09 AM

      Can this dish be frozen and if so, does it need to be thawed before heating in a microwave?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 9, 2021 at 8:46 AM

        Hi Mary! I don't typically recommend freezing creamy sauces. The texture usually won't be the same when thawed. Yes, you'd want to thaw it first if you want to microwave it. Personally, I'd skip the microwave and put it in a saucepan over LOW heat and slowly re-warm it to help prevent the sauce from separating. If it does separate, add a splash more cream to see if that will salvage the sauce.

        Reply
    29. Stephanie says

      July 15, 2021 at 7:31 PM

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 16, 2021 at 7:21 AM

        Fantastic!! I'm so glad that it's a new favorite for you guys! 🙂

        Reply
    30. Donna says

      July 9, 2021 at 4:45 PM

      5 stars
      Delish!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 10, 2021 at 9:05 AM

        Thank you!!

        Reply
    31. Talia says

      June 21, 2021 at 8:47 PM

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 22, 2021 at 9:18 AM

        Yay!! I'm so happy to hear that, Talia!

        Reply
    32. Niks says

      May 30, 2021 at 2:49 AM

      A really yummy recipe. I make pasta a lot and this is a nice change from regular pasta dishes.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 30, 2021 at 10:22 AM

        So glad you liked it, Niks!!!

        Reply
    33. Natalie says

      May 20, 2021 at 6:39 PM

      4 stars
      Way better with parm but needed some salt. Family loved it.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 20, 2021 at 8:04 PM

        Hi! Yes, of course... I never make a recipe without adding salt. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

        Reply
    34. Brooklyn says

      May 10, 2021 at 12:58 PM

      5 stars
      Delicious! Has to be one of the best pasta dishes I’ve made.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 10, 2021 at 2:52 PM

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    35. Tereza says

      May 6, 2021 at 5:22 AM

      5 stars
      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. 😍🥰

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 6, 2021 at 7:41 AM

        Aww that makes me so happy!! Thanks for letting me know, Tereza!

        Reply
    36. Woxy says

      April 26, 2021 at 1:00 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe was delicious. Probably one of the best pastas I've ever had.
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 26, 2021 at 2:30 PM

        That makes me happy! Thank you! 😀

        Reply
    37. Jadin says

      March 17, 2021 at 1:11 PM

      Do you know the nutrition facts of this recipe? How many calories each serving size is?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 18, 2021 at 9:44 AM

        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! 🙂

        Reply
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