Finding a meal that is quick, tasty, and has an easy clean-up is a task that many of us are familiar with. Everybody has those days, right? It doesn’t matter if you’re a parent spending most of your time on the go, a student balancing classes with work, or someone who would simply rather not spend more than an hour in the kitchen; this One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta is what you need. It is quite delicious, doesn’t need numerous ingredients, and most importantly, it is a single pan meal, so no one has to worry about scrubbing the dishes afterward!

In less than half an hour, you will enjoy creamy, garlicky pasta with chicken, spinach, and cherry tomatoes. It is filling and warming and will likely earn a place in your weekly menus.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

One-Pan Magic: There is a genius in this recipe – the genius of cooking all the ingredients in just one pot so that there are no or less dirty dishes after a meal. In other words, this means overcoming the dread of the post dinner scrubbing.

Flavor-Packed: This spaghetti is rich because of the myriad spice components such as garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and of course, parmesan cheese. Garlic gives the Italian dish an umami flavor while the sauce brings all the ingredients together.

Healthy Ingredients: This dish’s lean meat, fresh vegetables, and low-calorie pop of color, thanks to the cherry tomatoes, make it delicious and healthy. Spinach is rich in vitamins, while tomatoes add juiciness and antioxidant properties.

Quick and Easy: This mouth-watering dish can be readily served in under 30 minutes, thanks to the 10 minutes of preparation and the 20 minutes of cooking, simmering, or stir-frying. It is ideal for hectic weekday dinners or whenever your time is limited.

Now let me show you how to prepare this simple, yet satisfying and appetizing dish that will even please the fussiest of eaters!

Ingredients for One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta

The preparation for this easy and tasty recipe calls for the following ingredients:

⦁ 12 oz penne rigate pasta: It is best to use penne pasta, as it is perfect in absorbing the creamy sauce but feel free to use any other type of pasta available at hand.
⦁ 1 lb of chicken breast without skin and without bone: It is best to cut the meat into bite sizes for easy cooking and even easier eating.
⦁ 4 single cloves of garlic: Ground to have a balance of taste with garlic.
⦁ 4 cups of fresh spinach: This amount may sound too much, but the spinach wilts away quite a bit, paving the way for extra taste and health benefits.
⦁ 1 cup cherry tomatoes: Cut in half, adding sweetness and freshness at the same time.
⦁ ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese: Contributes to flossiness and the ever-tempting cheesy delicacy.
⦁ 1 tsp Italian seasoning: A mixture of spices ‘s’ which are oregano, basil, thyme, and many others, to achieve the Italian essence of the dish.
⦁ ½ tsp red pepper flakes: Just a little bit to add some spice. You may elevate this according to your personal taste or even leave it out if you don’t want any heat.
⦁ 2 tbsp. of olive oil: Which is added to cook the chicken and garlic.
⦁ Salt and pepper to taste: For spicing the chicken and enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
⦁ 2 cups chicken broth: This is incorporated into the cooking of the pasta by submerging the dry noodles in the pan to enhance its taste even further.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta

Step 1: Searing the Chicken
In a spacious frying pan, pour in 2-tablespoon olive oil and place over medium heat. When the oil has gone hot, add chicken pieces that are bite-size. Season the pieces with some salt, pepper, and Italian spices. The cooking of the chicken takes about 5-7 minutes with occasional stirring until browned and cooked inside. After that, take the chicken out of the skillet and reserve it for further use.

Step 2: Sauté the Garlic and Tomatoes
In the same skillet, add the chopped garlic and let it cook for about 30 seconds or until it is aromatic and cooked. Be careful not to burn the sautéed garlic, as it is important to retain its color and flavor. After that, add the halved cherry tomatoes, and after a while of around 2-3 minutes, there will be cooked-easy and juicy tomatoes.

Step 3: Cook the Pasta in Chicken Broth
Add the chicken stock in the skillet and allow it to start bubbling. However, this not only adds flavor but also allows the hungry to cook their desired pasta within the pan provided. Penne would be added to the plane above after mixing it with the garlic, tomatoes, and a little bit of broth in the skillet. Cook it in accordance to the direct indications provided on the package (usually 10-12 minutes), while stirring intermittently in order to keep the noodles submerged in the flavorsome stock without letting it boil over.

Step 4: Add Spinach and Chicken
After mashing the pasta and absorbing most of the broth, it is time to sprinkle some spinach and the cooked chicken back into the skillet. Fresh spinach and red chili flakes are also added before cooking for 2-3 minutes until the spinach has shrunk in volume and the chicken has warmed.

Step 5: Reheat hot and add parmesan to the dish and then serve immediately
Afterward, turn off the stove, as the pan is placed at the right temperature, and mix chili parmesan cheese in the chicken dish until it is all consummated with the chicken and pasta. Along with this, consider tasting the food and if necessary, add more salt and pepper, as well as red pepper flakes.
Tips for the Best One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta
Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh spinach, garlic, and tomatoes have been used to infuse vibrant flavors throughout the dish. Frozen spinach can be salvaged in an emergency, but fresh spinach will give the dish a more desirable texture and flavor.

Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Please ensure that you only cook the pasta until it is still somewhat chewy. The spinach and parmesan will still need to be cooked further when they are added and tossed around.

Customize Your Pasta: It is very possible to change the penne into any kind of pasta, be it farfalle, fusilli, or even spaghetti, as the cooking time will be provided on the packet of the specific pasta.

Add More Veggies: Are you looking for a heavier dish? For added clientele and taste, you can easily add more mushrooms, bells, or zucchini to the pan.

Make It Creamier: If you like your sauce creamier, you can add a bit of heavy cream or a spoon of cream cheese to the end of it. This will also enhance the thickness of the sauce, making it richer.

Why This Recipe is a Weeknight Winner

⦁ Very Little Tidying Needed: This is a tough sell: Everyone wants to help, but nobody wants to confront an army of dirty dishes after a long day. This recipe involves just one pan, so no extra large pots and pans are required at all, making the process of cleaning up relatively simple and quick.
⦁ Cooking Does Not Take Long: It takes only ten minutes of preparation and twenty minutes of cooking and you will be able to serve a cooked meal from the kitchen within no time. Moreover, it is all prepared in one skillet, which also means less clean-up afterwards.
⦁ Grown-up Approved: This meal has a mild flavor perfect for children but adults can opt to add more red pepper flakes to the dish for some heat. The creamy sauce and the tender chicken would definitely appeal to the whole family.
⦁ Nutritious and Balanced: Packed with lean protein from the chicken, iron-rich spinach, and fiber-filled tomatoes and pasta, this meal is as nutritious as it is delicious. It’s a great way to sneak some greens into your diet without feeling like you’re eating “health food.”

Final Thoughts

I love the ease of preparation and clean-up in this case.
Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta—Easy One-Pan Recipe

If you are searching for the best weeknight meal, then this Pan Garlic Chicken Pasta with Spinach is it. It’s yummy, doesn’t take long to prepare, and is enough to satisfy hunger. It has tender chicken, lots of spinach, tomatoes, and a cheesy, garlicky sauce, which is all an indulgent, comforting, yet healthy dish. Whether you are cooking for a family or looking for a dinner for one easy recipe, this one will be a permanent feature in your recipe cache.
So the next time you are cutting it close timewise but still feel like a decent meal made from scratch, whip up this one pan wonder! You will