Chicken Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Chicken Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

This one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that’s garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it “Mom’s Skillet Pasta,” and she called it “Devon’s Favorite Pasta.” Either way, it’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It’s a simple dinner the whole family will love.

 

Active Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

Servings: 4

Yield: 4 servings

 

 

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

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

10 cups chopped fresh spinach

4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in wine, lemon juice and zest; bring to a simmer.

Remove from heat. Stir in spinach and the cooked pasta. Cover and let stand until the spinach is just wilted.

Divide among 4 plates and top each serving with 1 tablespoon Parmesan.

 

 

Can This Recipe Be Made Gluten-Free?

Absolutely! If you have a gluten sensitivity, gluten-free pasta works well here. If not, using whole-wheat pasta will give you a boost of fiber without taking away from the flavor of the dish. We call for penne pasta but any shape will work.

Is There a Substitute for the White Wine?

You can replace the white wine with an equal amount of low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth.

Can I Use Baby Spinach Instead of Regular Spinach?

Yes, you can. Baby spinach is smaller in size than regular spinach, so there’s no need to chop it.

Nutritional Info:

Serving Size scant 2 cups

calories335total fat 12g saturated fat 3g cholesterol 67mg sodium 499mg total carbohydrate 25g dietary fiber 2g total sugars 1g protein 29g vitamin c 31mg calcium 144mg iron 3mg potassium 685mg