Chicken and Spinach Skillet Pasta 

This crowd‑pleasing Chicken and Spinach Skillet Pasta from Valerie’s Kitchen is a fuss‑free, one‑pan meal ready in around 30 minutes. Tender bite‑sized chicken, silky spinach, penne pasta, and a light tomato‑cream sauce come together in a single skillet. It strikes a perfect balance between cozy comfort and wholesome nutrition. With simple pantry ingredients and minimal cleanup, it’s a smart weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp extra‑virgin olive oil, divided
  
  

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1″ pieces
  
  

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  
  

• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  
  

• 1 cup diced onion
  
  

• 1 tsp minced garlic
  
  

• 2½ cups low‑sodium chicken broth
  
  

• 14.5 oz can fire‑roasted diced tomatoes
  
  

• 8 oz (about 2½ cups) uncooked penne pasta
  
  

• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  
  

• ½ cup half‑and‑half
  
  

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  
  

• 5 oz fresh baby spinach
  
  

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  
  

Directions

1. Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a deep 12″ skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook for ~3–4 minutes until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover.
   
   

2. Add remaining olive oil, then onion. Cook until softened (~2–3 minutes), then stir in garlic until fragrant (~1–2 minutes)
   
   

3. Stir in broth, diced tomatoes, pasta, crushed red pepper (if using), salt, and pepper. Return chicken to skillet. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to medium‑low. Simmer until pasta is tender, ~15 minutes.
   
   

4. Stir in half‑and‑half and mozzarella, simmer ~1–2 minutes until cheese melts.
   
   

5. Remove skillet from heat, pile fresh spinach on top, and stir in gently until wilted.
   
   

6. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan over each portion and serve immediately.
   
   

Nutrients

• Servings: 4
  
  

• Calories: ~598 kcal
  
  

• Carbohydrates: ~49 g
  
  

• Protein: ~43 g
  
  

• Fat: ~24 g (Saturated ~9 g)
  
  

• Cholesterol: ~110 mg
  
  

• Sodium: ~886 mg
  
  

• Fiber: ~2 g
  
  

• Sugar: ~3 g
  
  

• Vitamin A: ~450 IU • Vitamin C: ~13.8 mg • Calcium: ~286 mg • Iron: ~2.1 mg