Description
A quick and easy creamy chicken pasta dish featuring tender chicken, tangy feta, and juicy cherry tomatoes in a silky cream sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta (penne or fusilli)
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes.
- Push the chicken to the side and add the minced garlic; cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using), and cook for 2–3 minutes until tomatoes soften.
- Stir in the fresh spinach and cook until wilted, about 1–2 minutes.
- Lower the heat and pour in heavy cream, stirring to combine. Let it warm and thicken for 1–2 minutes.
- Add the crumbled feta cheese and stir until melted, creating a creamy sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to combine. Use the reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce thickness.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes if desired, then serve hot garnished with fresh basil.
Notes
Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining to help thin the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg