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Homemade Tuscan Chicken Pasta photo

Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Creamy Tuscan chicken with red pepper, spinach, and Parmesan served over fettuccine.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 5 servings

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1.5 poundschicken tenders or halved chicken breasts
  • 1 Tablespoonolive oil
  • 1 Tablespoonbutter
  • 3/4 cupall-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoonsalt
  • 1 teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoondried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoonDried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoononion powder
  • 2 Tablespoonsolive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 Tablespoonminced garlic
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoonsall-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cuplow-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cupmilk
  • 1/2 cupheavy whipping cream
  • 1 cupbaby spinach leaves chopped
  • 1/2 cupfreshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoongarlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoonItalian seasoning or more, to taste
  • salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
  • 1 lbfettuccine noodles

Instructions

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 1 lb fettuccine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large zip-top bag or bowl, combine 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder. Add 1.5 pounds chicken tenders (or halved chicken breasts) and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly. Shake off any excess flour.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter melts and foams. Add the coated chicken in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about a few minutes per side, flipping only once. Remove the chicken to a plate and let rest.
  • To the same skillet, add 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and scrape up any browned bits from the pan. Add 1 diced red bell pepper and cook 2–3 minutes until slightly softened.
  • Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic and cook about 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant.
  • Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour over the vegetables and stir for about 1 minute to cook the flour.
  • Whisk in 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth, scraping up any remaining browned bits, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  • Stir in 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 cup milk. Add 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 2–4 minutes.
  • Stir in 1 cup chopped baby spinach and 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Cook 1–2 minutes until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  • Slice or leave the rested chicken whole, return it to the skillet to warm in the sauce for about 1 minute, then serve the chicken and sauce over the cooked fettuccine. Garnish with additional freshly grated Parmesan if desired.

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Large Skillet
  • zip-top bag or bowl
  • Colander
  • Plate
  • Whisk

Notes

Notes
Make Ahead Instructions:
The sauce could be made 1-2 days ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator. The chicken can be coated in flour mixture a few hours ahead of time.
Dairy Free:
Replace butter with oil. Replace milk and cream with a dairy free substitute, like soy, almond or coconut milk.
Gluten-free Adaptations:
use gluten-free
all-purpose flour
, and
fettuccine noodles.