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