The Easiest Creamy Chicken Florentine Pasta Recipe Ever Made

Creamy chicken florentine pasta represents the ultimate comfort food for culinary enthusiasts seeking rich, satisfying meals.

Elegant Italian-inspired dishes often combine simple ingredients with sophisticated techniques that elevate home cooking.

Spinach and tender chicken merge beautifully in this classic recipe, creating layers of flavor and texture.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this pasta promises a delightful dining experience that feels simultaneously indulgent and nutritious.

creamy sauces redefine ordinary ingredients into extraordinary meals that warm both body and soul.

Weeknight dinners demand quick, delectable solutions that don’t compromise on taste or presentation.

Home cooks will appreciate how effortlessly this dish comes together with minimal preparation.

What People Enjoy About Chicken Florentine Pasta

• Savor Quick and Flavorful Cooking: This recipe offers a delightful blend of speed and taste, allowing you to create a restaurant-quality meal in under 30 minutes with minimal kitchen effort.
• Elevate Everyday Ingredients: Transform simple chicken tenders, pasta, and spinach into a creamy, luxurious dish that feels gourmet but uses accessible, budget-friendly components.
• Master One-Pan Magic: The recipe minimizes cleanup by using the same skillet for chicken, sauce, and pasta, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want delicious results without extensive washing up.
• Customize Your Comfort: Easy to adjust with optional red pepper flakes for heat, lemon juice for brightness, and parmesan for extra richness, this dish adapts to personal taste preferences while maintaining its core deliciousness.

Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Florentine Pasta

• Chicken Tenders: Lean protein that adds substance and heartiness to the pasta dish, choose fresh and uniform in size for even cooking.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds rich, salty flavor and creamy texture, best when freshly shaved.

• Linguine: Classic pasta shape that holds sauce well, select high-quality semolina pasta.
• Spinach: Adds nutritional value and vibrant green color, fresh baby spinach works best.
• Onion: Provides foundational savory flavor, sweet white or yellow onion recommended.
• Garlic: Brings depth and aromatic notes, fresh cloves preferred over pre-minced.

• Garlic Powder: Enhances overall seasoning profile, provides consistent garlic flavor.
• Italian Seasoning: Adds herbal complexity to chicken and sauce, dried blend of herbs.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing overall taste.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces subtle heat and complexity.
• Flour: Helps thicken sauce and create smooth consistency.
• Chicken Broth: Provides liquid base and additional savory flavor.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds tangy undertone and helps emulsify sauce.
• Heavy Cream: Creates rich, luxurious sauce texture.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens flavors and adds slight acidity.
• Olive Oil and Butter: Provide cooking fat and enhance flavor, use combination for best results.

Cooking Creamy Chicken Florentine the Easy Way

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Seasonings

• Garlic powder
• Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Black pepper

Pat chicken tenders dry and generously coat both sides with the seasoning mix.

Step 2: Sear Chicken to Golden Perfection

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a combination of oil and butter. Once butter sizzles, carefully place chicken tenders in a single layer. Cook for 4-5 minutes until bottom turns golden brown. Flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into bite-sized pieces.

Step 3: Cook Pasta to Al Dente

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook 1 minute less than package instructions to maintain a perfectly tender texture. Typically, this means about 9 minutes for linguine.

Step 4: Build Creamy Sauce Base

• Diced onions (cook until softened)
• Minced garlic
• Red pepper flakes

Sprinkle flour and whisk until smooth. Gradually add chicken broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Stir in mustard for depth of flavor.

Step 5: Create Luxurious Cream Sauce

Continue whisking sauce over medium heat until it bubbles and thickens. Incorporate heavy cream, a splash of lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 6: Combine and Finish Dish

Drain pasta, reserving some cooking water. Add pasta directly to sauce. Toss in fresh spinach and gently fold until leaves wilt and pasta is completely coated. If sauce seems too thick, add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.

Step 7: Add Chicken and Serve

Fold chicken pieces into the creamy pasta mixture until warmed through. Plate in serving bowls and garnish with freshly shaved parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while hot and creamy.

Tricks to Level Up Chicken Florentine Pasta

• Perfectly Season Chicken: Use a blend of garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to create a flavorful coating that enhances the chicken's taste.
• Achieve Al Dente Pasta: Cook pasta 1 minute less than package instructions to ensure a perfect texture that holds up beautifully in the creamy sauce.
• Create Smooth Sauce Base: Whisk flour carefully to eliminate dry bits, incorporating chicken broth gradually to prevent lumps and develop a silky-smooth consistency.
• Wilt Spinach Gently: Fold spinach into the pasta at the end, allowing it to soften delicately without overcooking, maintaining its vibrant color and nutrients.
• Adjust Sauce Consistency: Keep a cup of pasta water on hand to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick, ensuring a perfectly creamy and coating texture.

Keeping Pasta Leftovers Just as Creamy

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Chicken Florentine Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cool the dish completely before transferring to prevent bacterial growth.
• Reheating on Stovetop: Gently reheat the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water to restore moisture and prevent sticking. Stir frequently to ensure even warming and prevent burning.
• Microwave Option: For a quick reheat, place pasta in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and warm in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly. Add a little liquid if the pasta seems dry.

What to Pair with Chicken Florentine Pasta

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio complements the creamy sauce and cuts through the richness, enhancing the dish's delicate flavors.
• Serve with Garlic Bread: Crusty, buttery garlic bread provides a perfect crunchy contrast to the smooth, velvety pasta, helping to soak up the delicious sauce.
• Fresh Arugula Salad Companion: A light, peppery arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette offers a refreshing counterpoint to the creamy chicken Florentine, balancing the dish's richness with bright, zesty notes.
• Accompany with Chardonnay: An oaked Chardonnay matches the creamy texture of the sauce, creating a harmonious flavor profile that elevates the entire dining experience.

Pasta Upgrades and Variations You’ll Love

• Seafood Symphony: Replace chicken with a mix of shrimp, scallops, and crab meat for an ocean-inspired pasta experience.
• Vegetarian Veggie Delight: Substitute chicken with roasted mushrooms, zucchini, and artichoke hearts to create a hearty plant-based version.
• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Add sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and swap red pepper flakes for harissa paste to bring bold Mediterranean flavors to the dish.
• Protein Power Bowl: Include grilled tofu or plant-based chicken alternative for a protein-packed meal that caters to different dietary preferences.

Creamy Chicken Florentine Pasta Recipe

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4.8 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy chicken florentine pasta brings Italian comfort right to your kitchen with rich spinach and silky parmesan sauce. Garlic-infused chicken and tender pasta create a luxurious meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 8 oz / 227 g linguine pasta
• 6 oz baby spinach
• 1 small onion
• 3 garlic cloves

Protein:

• Chicken (amount not specified in original recipe)

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1½ cups / 300 g chicken broth
• ½ cup / 75 g heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan cheese (for topping)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the seasoning blend by combining garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl.
2. Pat chicken tenders dry and generously coat with the prepared spice mixture on both sides, ensuring even coverage.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature, adding a combination of oil and butter until the butter begins to sizzle.
4. Carefully arrange chicken tenders in a single layer, cooking for 4-5 minutes until golden brown on the first side.
5. Flip the tenders and continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
6. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and slice into bite-sized pieces.
7. Simultaneously, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil and cook pasta approximately 1 minute less than package instructions for al dente texture.
8. In the same skillet used for chicken, sauté onions over medium heat until softened and translucent.
9. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring quickly to release their aromatic oils.
10. Sprinkle flour into the skillet, whisking thoroughly to eliminate any dry patches.
11. Gradually incorporate chicken broth, whisking constantly to create a smooth, lump-free sauce.
12. Stir in mustard and continue whisking until the sauce begins to gently bubble and thicken.
13. Pour in cream, then add a splash of lemon juice, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
14. Drain pasta using a slotted spoon or colander, transferring directly into the sauce.
15. Add fresh spinach to the skillet, gently folding to coat pasta and allow spinach to wilt.
16. If sauce seems too thick, introduce a small amount of reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
17. Fold in the previously prepared chicken pieces to warm through completely.
18. Serve immediately in individual bowls, generously topping with shaved parmesan cheese.

Notes

• Perfectly seasoned chicken tenders create a flavor-packed base for this creamy, restaurant-worthy pasta dish.
• Cooking pasta slightly under al dente ensures a perfect texture when finishing in the rich, velvety sauce.
• Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to adjust sauce consistency and help ingredients bind together seamlessly.
• Gentle folding technique prevents breaking delicate spinach leaves while evenly coating pasta with luxurious sauce.
• Quick-cooking method transforms simple ingredients into an impressive meal in under 30 minutes.
• Versatile recipe allows easy customization with different protein or vegetable options for endless variations.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 485
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 550 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 56 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg