Description
This Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon and Parmesan is a quick and easy one-pan meal packed with protein, vegetables, and bright lemony flavor. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner and comes together in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole-wheat penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 (5-ounce) package baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add garlic and Italian seasoning to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over the chicken mixture and stir to coat. Slowly add chicken broth while stirring. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in half-and-half, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce is creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to combine. Cook for another minute to heat through. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and texture.
- You can substitute kale or arugula for spinach if preferred.
- Add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ¾ cups
- Calories: 478
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 518mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
