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Creamy Spinach Chicken Pasta – This cream cheese spinach chicken pasta recipe comes together quickly and summarizes what “total comfort food dinner” really means. Made with farfalle pasta, rotisserie or leftover chicken, spinach, spices, garlic, cream cheese, and parmesan, you can make this incredible chicken pasta dinner in less than 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the Cream Cheese Spinach Chicken Pasta
- 14 oz (400g) farfalle pasta
- 1/2 lb (220g) shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken or any cooked chicken you like)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 or 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup (125ml) low-sodium chicken broth (or cooking pasta water)
- 10 oz (300g) fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes, optional
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To make the cream cheese spinach chicken pasta skillet: Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente, according to the package instructions. Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water if you don’t use chicken broth.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Make sure not to burn the garlic.
3. In the same skillet, stir in cream cheese and 1/2 cup chicken broth (or pasta water). Stir well to combine, then add parmesan cheese and stir well again, until the sauce is smooth. Adjust seasoning with red chili pepper flakes and black pepper.
4. Add the shredded chicken to the creamy sauce and give a quick stir to coat well and reheat.
5. Once the pasta is ready, add cooked pasta and spinach to the creamy sauce with chicken. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes until spinach is just wilted. Add more chicken broth or pasta water if need. Serve the cream cheese spinach chicken pasta with more red chili pepper flakes and more parmesan, if you like. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the Cream Cheese Spinach Chicken Pasta Recipe
This spinach chicken pasta is ideal for busy weeknights. The chicken melts in your mouth, and the spinach adds some freshness to a pasta dish that’s otherwise fairly rich. We cook each ingredient separately to avoid excess water from spinach and losing taste. You can save time by cooking all ingredients together but keep in mind the cream cheese spinach chicken pasta could end up being soupy and tasteless.
- Don’t skimp on chili pepper flakes, they add a great spicy touch to this pasta recipe and cut through the blandness of spinach.
- You can use any kind of pasta, but we favor pasta shapes that hold the sauce well such as farfalle, penne, rotini…
- Either finely grate your own parmesan, or buy the finely shredded parmesan cheese at the grocery store. Do not use store-bought sandy or shaved parmesan that comes in plastic boxes, it will not melt properly in the sauce.
- Some readers said they like to add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to all their creamy sauce, we didn’t try yet with this chicken pasta recipe but we bet it can be delicious.
- Their should be no need to add salt to this recipe since pasta, cream cheese and chicken broth are already salted.
What to serve with the cream cheese spinach chicken pasta?
Serve this cream cheese spinach chicken pasta with a fresh, crisp side salad to balance out the richness of the sauce. If you’re leaning toward a full dinner, add a side of garlic bread!
How long to keep the cream cheese spinach chicken pasta leftovers?
This cream cheese spinach chicken pasta recipe keeps in the fridge for 4 days or so. Reheat in the microwave, adding a tiny splash of water to loosen up the sauce if necessary.
More pasta recipes you might like
- 20-Minute Sausage Pasta Skillet
- Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Tomato Spinach Sausage Pasta
- Tomato Spinach Shrimp Pasta
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
