1.25lbboneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size piecespat dry
1.5tbspolive oil
1tbspunsalted butter
0.5cupyellow onion, finely chopped
3tspgarlic, minced
0.5cupsun-dried tomatoes, chopped and drained
3.25cuplow-sodium chicken broth
1cupheavy cream
12ozshort pasta, such as penne or rigatoni
0.75cupParmesan cheese, freshly gratedplus extra for serving
1.25tspItalian seasoning
0.5tsppaprika
0.5tspred pepper flakesadjust to taste
1.25tspkosher saltdivided, plus more to taste
0.75tspblack pepper
2cupbaby spinachloosely packed
0.25cupfresh basil, choppedfor garnish
Instructions
Preparation Steps
Season chicken with 1 tsp salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium-high. Sear chicken until lightly browned, 4–5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Sauté onion in the same pot until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; cook 30 seconds.
Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a gentle boil.
Add pasta and return chicken to the pot. Stir well and reduce to a lively simmer.
Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and chicken is cooked through, 12–14 minutes.
Lower heat. Fold in Parmesan and spinach until creamy and wilted. Adjust with remaining salt and red pepper flakes.
Let rest 2 minutes to thicken. Top with basil and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Variation: Swap half the cream for evaporated milk for a lighter sauce, or add sliced mushrooms with the onions. Storage: Refrigerate in a sealed container up to 3 days; loosen leftovers with a splash of broth or cream when reheating.This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic One-Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.