Quick, Creamy, and Delicious: Skillet Pasta for Dinner Tonight!
On
19/11/2024Reading time:
7 min
Summary:
Whip up a quick and delicious weeknight dinner with this Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta! Made in just one pan, it combines tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a zesty lemon-garlic sauce, all topped with Parmesan. Perfect for the whole family!
Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
This one-pan chicken pasta brings together tender chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a flavorful, garlicky, and lemony dish that's perfect with a sprinkle of Parmesan on top. I like to call it "Mom's Skillet Pasta," though she lovingly referred to it as "Devon's Favorite Pasta." No matter the name, it’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner we came up with together over a decade ago, jotting it down on a little recipe card. To this day, it’s a staple in my weekly menu—a simple meal the whole family enjoys.
Ingredients
8 ounces gluten-free penne pasta or whole-wheat penne pasta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, trimmed, if necessary, and cut into bite-size pieces
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup dry white wine
2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
10 cups chopped fresh spinach
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked. Add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Pour in the wine, lemon juice, and zest, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the spinach and cooked pasta. Cover and let sit until the spinach wilts slightly. Serve by dividing the pasta among 4 plates and sprinkling each portion with 1 tablespoon of Parmesan.