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    Home » Chicken & Poultry

    Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta

    Published: Nov 5, 2020 / Updated: Feb 28, 2022 / 83 Comments

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

    Jump to Recipe

    This tomato spinach chicken pasta recipe is delicious with tender pan-fried chicken nestled in a creamy tomato spinach sauce. It's quick and easy for busy weeknights!

    creamy tomato spinach chicken pasta in a white bowl

    This dish is perfect for when you want something delicious and comforting but also fairly healthy. 

    I use both tomato paste and tomato sauce in this recipe so the creamy tomato sauce shines and the tomato flavor really pops!

    How to make chicken spinach tomato pasta (overview):

    For this recipe, you start by pan-frying the chicken in a skillet. Cook it for about 5-6 minutes/side or until it's cooked through and golden. You then take it out of the pan and make the sauce. While the sauce is simmering, you cut the chicken into strips. The dish is then finished by adding some fresh spinach and the chicken to the sauce, letting it warm through, and tossing it with the pasta. (Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below)

    skillet with seared chicken breast

    Recipe notes & tips:

    • It can sometimes be hard to tell when chicken is done, and in a recipe like this, chicken can go from underdone to overdone very quickly. I use an instant read thermometer to easily tell when chicken is done. Chicken is safe to eat at 165F (keep in mind that the temperature will rise for a bit even after you stop cooking it). 
    • Can I sub the cream for something else? There's a good chance that the acidity of the tomatoes will curdle the sauce if you use something with a lower fat content than heavy cream, so I recommend sticking with it if you do give this recipe a try.
    • Use whatever shape of pasta you prefer/you've got on hand. 

    skillet with chicken tomato spinach pasta sauce

    More tasty recipes to try:

    • Tomato Spinach White Wine Chicken
    • Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken
    • Spicy Chicken Pasta
    • Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe
    • Chicken Feta Spinach Pasta
    • Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta
    • Creamy Tomato Chicken

    tomato spinach chicken pasta in a pot with cooked penne (ready to be tossed with pasta)

    Will you give this chicken spinach tomato pasta try? Questions about this recipe? Give me a shout in the comments below! 

    creamy tomato spinach chicken pasta in a white bowl

    Tomato Chicken Spinach Pasta

    This tomato spinach chicken pasta recipe is delicious with tender pan-fried chicken nestled in a creamy tomato spinach sauce. It's quick and easy for busy weeknights!
    4.93 from 27 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 589 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 8 ounces uncooked pasta
    • 2 chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
    • 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 (14 fluid ounce) can tomato sauce
    • 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
    • 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
    • Freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving, to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Boil a large, salted pot of water for your pasta and cook it al dente according to package instructions.
    • Meanwhile, cut the chicken in half lengthwise so you've got 4 thinner pieces. Season both sides of each piece with the garlic powder and salt & pepper.
    • Add the butter and olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Let the pan heat up for a few minutes, then cook the chicken for about 5 minutes/side or until it's cooked through, then transfer the chicken to a plate.
    • Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, cream, and Italian seasoning. Stir until it's nice and smooth. Reduce the heat to medium. Let the sauce cook for about 3-5 minutes (let it gently bubble and it will thicken up a bit).
    • Meanwhile, cut the chicken up into strips.
    • Season the sauce with some salt & pepper, then add in the chicken and spinach and let it warm through for a minute or two.
    • If the sauce gets too thick, add in a splash of the hot pasta water prior to draining it. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce (I add the pasta back to the pot it was cooked in and then pour the skillet contents into the pot). Serve immediately with parmesan cheese over top.

    Notes

    • I don't recommend subbing the cream for something else like half-and-half because the tomatoes are likely to curdle the sauce.
    • 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: 589kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 35gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 772mgPotassium: 1083mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2736IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword chicken spinach tomato pasta, tomato chicken spinach pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Chicken Tetrazzini Soup
    Super Easy Ground Beef Tacos »

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    1. Elissa Krul says

      March 15, 2023 at 5:50 PM

      My family loves when I make this for dinner! I had a lot more garlic so the sauce is good and garlicky. When I have fresh oregano in the house I chop that up too, and throw it in. So delicious!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 15, 2023 at 11:47 PM

        Love that!!

        Reply
    2. Denise says

      February 22, 2023 at 4:06 PM

      5 stars
      Delish and easy to make ahead of time and bake later!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 22, 2023 at 5:44 PM

        Glad you enjoyed it, Denise!

        Reply
    3. Cindy says

      February 17, 2023 at 1:41 AM

      Could I make this with ground beef?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM

        Sure, I don't see why not!

        Reply
        • Cindy says

          February 17, 2023 at 5:04 PM

          Just made it with ground beef and it came out delicious! Thank you for the recipe, super easy!

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            February 17, 2023 at 6:06 PM

            That's awesome!! You're welcome!

            Reply
    4. Liz says

      February 15, 2023 at 4:50 PM

      4 stars
      I’ll definitely make this again! I spruced mine up a little bit for some richness with onion, extra Italian seasoning, garlic salt, and basil then topped with ricotta because why not. Your recipes are great thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 15, 2023 at 5:32 PM

        You're very welcome!! 😀

        Reply
    5. Cindy says

      February 7, 2023 at 3:26 PM

      Thank you for sharing your recipe! My family loved it. you all that share on the website are Angles!!! Thank you again

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 7, 2023 at 8:23 PM

        You're very welcome!! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Kirsten M. says

      January 27, 2023 at 1:31 PM

      4 stars
      I added some freshly diced tomatoes, bell peppers, red pepper flakes, and a little extra cream to my recipe to cut the acidity. The recipe came out great 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 27, 2023 at 4:41 PM

        Excellent!!

        Reply
    7. Ellen Fellows says

      October 16, 2022 at 10:26 AM

      5 stars
      We LOVED this! I didn’t have any tomato sauce on hand so I slightly drained a can of diced tomatoes and put in extra tomato paste and it was delicious. Even my picky eaters loved it! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 16, 2022 at 12:45 PM

        I'm so happy you guys all enjoyed it! 😀 Thanks for your review, Ellen!

        Reply
    8. Christine says

      October 15, 2022 at 2:33 AM

      What can of tomato sauce do you use? I mistook it for saying soup so I used a can of Heinz tomato soup and it was delicious! Tried it with pasata - tomato pasta sauce and it is not that great.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 15, 2022 at 10:13 AM

        I'm glad it worked out! 🙂 So it's literally a can that says "tomato sauce". Many different brands make it. Yes, it's pretty much the North American equivalent to passata. It's generally a bit thinner in consistency than crushed tomatoes.

        Reply
    9. Joanne says

      October 3, 2022 at 7:24 PM

      5 stars
      I had my eye on this recipe and was thinking about using it for a dinner party for friends this month. But I wanted to try it out first. It is a hit!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 3, 2022 at 9:37 PM

        That's great to hear, Joanne!

        Reply
    10. Debbie says

      October 3, 2022 at 4:28 AM

      5 stars
      Very nice I've made this recipe twice now and have used fettuccine pasta and spiral pasta. It is one of my favourite pasta dishes..Love reading your recipe blog 😀 😋

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 3, 2022 at 11:13 AM

        Thanks so much, Debbie! 😀 I'm so glad it's a hit for you. I appreciate you taking the time to drop me a review.

        Reply
    11. Cecily Rouser says

      August 14, 2022 at 9:40 AM

      5 stars
      Literally the best pasta sauce I have ever made. Thank you.

      I added grape tomatoes broiled with a little olive oil and himalyan salt. It was perfect.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 14, 2022 at 12:01 PM

        Aww that's so nice to hear!! You're very welcome!

        Reply
    12. Bethany says

      August 5, 2022 at 5:43 PM

      I substituted evaporated milk for the cream since it's all I had on hand, and this still turned out thick and delicious! I was careful to not get the sauce too hot so it did not curdle 😊 Can't wait to try it again with cream to see how rich it is!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 5, 2022 at 8:02 PM

        I'm so glad it worked out!! 🙂

        Reply
    13. Hpop says

      June 30, 2022 at 12:39 PM

      Is there a substitute for heavy cream you can recommend? Thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 30, 2022 at 2:02 PM

        Not that I've tested - sorry. Some readers have luck using Silk brand dairy-free whipping cream, but I have not personally tried it.

        Reply
    14. Eric says

      May 31, 2022 at 1:30 PM

      5 stars
      I made a vegetarian version using pan-seared tofu and vegan chicken pieces, it was so delicious!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 31, 2022 at 1:54 PM

        That's awesome! Love it!

        Reply
    15. Zau says

      May 15, 2022 at 9:32 AM

      5 stars
      My daughter made sounds while eating (lol) so I knew it would be a keeper. I doubled the recipe and added some pepper flakes. Thanks for sharing Natasha!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 15, 2022 at 12:50 PM

        Hahaha I love it!! You're very welcome, Zau! 🙂

        Reply
    16. Maru morales says

      May 4, 2022 at 2:12 PM

      Hi!
      What can I use instead of tomatoe paste?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 4, 2022 at 3:27 PM

        Hi! You could probably leave it out and it'll have a slightly less thick sauce and less concentrated tomato flavor. You could possibly use a can of crushed tomatoes instead of the tomato sauce if you're leaving out the tomato paste.

        Reply
    17. Carla says

      March 21, 2022 at 9:46 PM

      5 stars
      Delicious! The whole family loved it. Was simple to make as well

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 22, 2022 at 12:43 AM

        That's great to hear, Carla! Thanks for trying it 🙂

        Reply
    18. Ann says

      March 13, 2022 at 3:12 PM

      5 stars
      Made this last night for dinner. Easy and delicious- a definite keeper

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 13, 2022 at 3:23 PM

        Excellent! Thanks for trying it, Ann!

        Reply
    19. Rini says

      March 10, 2022 at 11:53 AM

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight. It was delicious and really easy to make. My family were impressed and really enjoyed it. Thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 10, 2022 at 12:27 PM

        That's great!! Thank you, Rini!

        Reply
    20. Cat says

      January 27, 2022 at 11:07 AM

      What does tomato sauce mean can I used chopped tomatoes? So excited to try

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        January 27, 2022 at 11:34 AM

        Hi Cat! Tomato sauce is similar to what's called passata internationally. It's a kind of puréed and strained tomato sauce that normally comes in a can and is fairly thick. Chopped tomatoes don't have a saucy consistency and may be watery. Enjoy the recipe 🙂

        Reply
        • Rini says

          March 10, 2022 at 11:56 AM

          I personally used chopped tomatoes and tomato paste and it was still delicous and not too watery as the cream thickened it as well. Next time i will specifically get the sauce and try it.

          Reply
    21. Sandra says

      January 22, 2022 at 11:49 AM

      5 stars
      Another winner for me 😋😍

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        January 22, 2022 at 2:57 PM

        That's great! 🙂

        Reply
    22. Meg says

      January 18, 2022 at 6:22 PM

      5 stars
      Made this tonight and it was so simple, but amazing tasting!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        January 18, 2022 at 6:52 PM

        Love to hear that, Meg!!

        Reply
    23. Lori St.Onge says

      December 1, 2021 at 4:49 PM

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it was really delicious. Just a couple of changes. I added some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat and Parmesan cheese. I will definitely
      Make it again. Very quick and easy but very delicious.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 1, 2021 at 5:09 PM

        I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!!

        Reply
    24. Louise says

      November 10, 2021 at 6:40 AM

      Absolutely delicious recipe. I personally added a full 1tsp of Italian seasoning and 1/2 tsp of mild chilli powder. This will be a recurrent recipe at home!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 10, 2021 at 9:28 AM

        Wonderful!! I'm so happy you enjoyed it and tweaked it to your tastes, Louise. 🙂

        Reply
    25. Abbie says

      October 14, 2021 at 4:30 PM

      Hi, just wondering the approx serving size? For example how many grams for each serve 😊

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 14, 2021 at 6:52 PM

        Hi Abbie! Honestly, I have no idea - sorry! I include nutrition info as a courtesy (it's just an estimate generated by a calculator that pulls from a database to give readers a general idea). I am not a trained nutritionist (nor great at math lol), and I would not feel comfortable guessing as it'll be off anyway since ingredients vary so much by brand, size of chicken breasts you happen to purchase, etc. If you need precise info for health reasons, you may want to weigh each ingredient out and enter it into something like My Fitness Pal.

        Reply
    26. Iliana says

      October 13, 2021 at 2:00 PM

      5 stars
      Just made this for my husband and two year old son and they both LOVED it! Hubby said it was even better than a restaurant's so thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it will be my go-to sauce for pasta now!
      I did it without chicken since I'm pregnant and its one of the aversions I've had the last few months but still with only the spinach and cheese it was pitch perfect! 10/10 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 13, 2021 at 8:58 PM

        That's wonderful!! I'm so happy you all enjoyed it, Illiana!

        Reply
    27. Lina Kessaissia says

      October 6, 2021 at 10:28 PM

      Ahhh in love. My mouth was watering at the sight of this dish. Thank you🙏🙏

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 7, 2021 at 10:26 AM

        You're welcome!

        Reply
    28. Emma says

      September 21, 2021 at 6:32 PM

      5 stars
      I also added 4 or 5 thin sliced mushrooms, half a small onion thinly sliced and a little extra spinach. Other wise I followed this recipe to a T and my family ADORED it. Extremely customizable veggie wise. Super easy and super good!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 21, 2021 at 6:40 PM

        Fantastic!! I'm so happy it was enjoyed, Emma!! 😀

        Reply
    29. Jane says

      August 19, 2021 at 11:31 AM

      5 stars
      I love this recipe, it was easy to make and the taste was delicious. I love it so much that I would like to make this as a side dish for a party , probably about three pounds can I make this ahead of time and reheat tithe day of the party any ideas?????? Thank you so much for an excellent recipe

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 19, 2021 at 11:42 AM

        Hi Jane!! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm a little concerned the sauce won't be as nice reheated (creamy sauces are notoriously finicky and can separate when reheating), but if you still want to try, I would probably wait until the very end (like just before serving) to add the spinach in so it doesn't go an unappealing color/very limp texture. I'd keep the chicken and the sauce separate and reheat both SLOWLY on a low heat so the chicken doesn't get overcooked and the sauce doesn't separate. Perhaps warm the chicken in the oven covered by foil?

        Reply
    30. Chris Holen says

      August 7, 2021 at 4:07 PM

      5 stars
      Delicious inspiration!
      I substituted fire-roasted tomatoes instead of sauce and doubled up on the tomato paste.
      Also added burnt butter to pasta so l could top it with the chicken and sauce (for aesthetics)
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 7, 2021 at 4:10 PM

        Sounds good to me, Chris!!

        Reply
    31. Todd says

      July 11, 2021 at 3:38 AM

      5 stars
      Delicious. We also added mushrooms to ours for an earthy tone. Loved it.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 11, 2021 at 9:31 AM

        Wonderful!! So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

        Reply
    32. Kiley Baile says

      June 29, 2021 at 5:51 PM

      5 stars
      This dish is AMAZING! My kids ask for it at least once a week. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 29, 2021 at 7:36 PM

        That's great to hear!! Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    33. Molly Shackelford in Va says

      June 13, 2021 at 1:05 PM

      5 stars
      I had a single, lonely yellow squash in my fridge that I couldn’t decide what I wanted to use it in...guess what? Deslish! Your recipe is amazing and allows for little tweaks and I love that so much! I sautéed the squash with the garlic and it was incredible! Thanks so much for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 13, 2021 at 4:56 PM

        That's great!! I love that idea. 🙂

        Reply
    34. Emily says

      April 27, 2021 at 2:45 AM

      5 stars
      delicious!!! Such an easy and exquisite recipe! My whole family loved it 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 27, 2021 at 7:39 AM

        Fantastic! Thank you!!

        Reply
    35. Simran Rao says

      April 17, 2021 at 3:10 PM

      5 stars
      So excited to try something like this with so much flavour! Mouth watering just looking at the recipe! ❤️

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 17, 2021 at 6:41 PM

        Enjoy!! 🙂

        Reply
    36. Dina says

      April 6, 2021 at 1:14 PM

      5 stars
      Great flavor, I loved this meal, I added extra spinach. I could eat this every night!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 6, 2021 at 1:15 PM

        So happy to hear that! 🙂 I'm big on extra spinach myself... just had half a box of it in my lunch today haha.

        Reply
    37. Allie Smith says

      December 20, 2020 at 4:49 PM

      This turned out SO delicious. Perfect cozy Sunday night meal. Will be making this again!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 20, 2020 at 8:11 PM

        Great! Thank you! 😀

        Reply
    38. Kristin Oliveri says

      November 17, 2020 at 6:05 PM

      5 stars
      Such an amazing dish ! Really full of flavor and so easy to make . I highly recommend trying it and you’ll see for yourself how delicious it was ! Felt like restaurant quality flavors . Will be my new go to dish for sure !

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 17, 2020 at 8:13 PM

        I'm so happy to hear that!! 😀

        Reply
    39. Roberta Forney says

      November 14, 2020 at 4:11 PM

      5 stars
      I made this for the first time and it was quite simple and tasty.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 14, 2020 at 8:27 PM

        I'm so happy to hear that, Roberta! Thanks for commenting! 🙂

        Reply
    40. Anna says

      November 13, 2020 at 11:03 AM

      For a short cut, could I use jarred marinara sauce like Rao’s tomato basil pasta sauce?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 13, 2020 at 12:21 PM

        Sure!

        Reply

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