Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a scrumptious pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in a creamy vodka sauce. This easy chicken pasta recipe is great for busy weeknights or date night.
This one-pot chicken pasta is so delicious, it will literally make you feel like you ordered take-out from your favorite Italian restaurant! It's also the perfect date-night meal with its lustrous vodka sauce and distinct Italian flavor. If you don’t have vodka...guess what? I bet your neighbor does.
One Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta Ingredients
Visit recipe card below 👇🏼 for printable amounts and instructions
- boneless skinless chicken breast
- olive oil - or any cooking oil
- oil-packed sun dried tomatoes
- onion
- garlic - fresh garlic cloves recommended
- vodka - optional, but recommended
- chicken broth - I always use reduced-sodium broth
- heavy cream - or half and half or milk
- uncooked penne pasta - or preferred pasta
- Italian seasoning
- crushed red pepper flakes
- baby spinach or kale
- Parmesan cheese
What I love about this chicken pasta
- We use oil-packed sun dried tomatoes. You could use fresh tomatoes, but trust me, that sun dried tomato oil embeds SO much flavor into this dish...just get ready!!
- We added lean chicken breast to this dish, but you can use boneless chicken thighs for this recipe.
- Fresh spinach adds so much color, texture, and nutrients. Kale works too!
- We're using one pot to make this dish. One pot pasta = less dishes 🏆
Can you get drunk from vodka sauce?
The (optional) vodka in this recipe is not meant to get you sauced or even tipsy. The alcohol burns off during the cooking process and creates layers of gorgeous flavor.
More EASY CHICKEN RECIPES from Kitchen Girl
Pro tip for juicy chicken breast
Use the flat side of a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken breast to 1/2" thickness. Then if time allows, let the chicken breast to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. These steps prevent overcooking the chicken breast and create juicy, tender results.
How to make Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Visit recipe card below 👇🏼 for printable amounts and instructions
Step 1: Pound chicken breast flat, season both sides, and saute in a skillet or sauce pot. Transfer to a cutting board, rest 5 minutes, and slice.
Step 2: Saute onion, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes. Add broth, pasta, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until pasta is cooked through.
Step 3: Add heavy cream, spinach, and chicken to the pasta. Allow to heat through and serve warm.
More EASY CHICKEN RECIPES from Kitchen Girl
The best tomatoes for Tuscan Chicken Pasta
You can use fresh tomatoes for this recipe, but Olive Oil Packed Sun Dried Tomatoes add so much depth of flavor. The olive oil itself is like liquid gold for cooking because it's infused with sun dried tomato flavor. It truly makes this recipe heavenly.
Recommended Tools
- chef knife
- cutting board
- meat tenderizer
- 11" stainless steel fry pan or a 3.5 qt pot
- serving spoon
More one pot pasta recipes
- Taco Pasta for Instant Pot or Stove
- Lasagna Soup
- Chicken Alfredo for Instant Pot
- Ham and Peas Alfredo Pasta
Quick and easy dinner recipes
- Baked Feta Pasta [TikTok Viral Pasta]
- 15-minute Broiled Salmon
- Tortilla Pizza for Stove or Oven
- Skillet Tuna Pasta
One Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast about 3/4 lb.
- pinch Salt and Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil or preferred cooking oil
- 1/4 cup Oil-Packed Sun-dried Tomatoes
- 1/2 medium Onion sliced or diced
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1/4 cup Vodka or Dry Sherry
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Heavy Cream or preferred dairy liquid
- 1/2 lb. Uncooked Penne Pasta same as 2 cups
- 1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
- 2 cups Baby Spinach
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
Recipe Instructions
Saute the chicken breast
- Use flat side of a meat tenderizer to flatten CHICKEN BREAST to 1/2” thickness and season with SALT and PEPPER.
- Heat OLIVE OIL in an 11” skillet or 3.5 quart pot on medium-high heat.
- Sauté the CHICKEN BREAST on both sides (about 3 minutes each side) until cooked through.
- Transfer to a cutting board, cover and rest 5 minutes. Slice chicken into 1/2” thick pieces and set aside.
Make the pasta
- Using the same skillet / pot on medium-high heat, sauté ONION, GARLIC, and SUN-DRIED TOMATOES (with their oil) until onion is tender. Add a splash of OLIVE OIL, if needed.
- Pour VODKA over the vegetables and scrape the pan to release any browned bits to deglaze.
- Stir in CHICKEN BROTH, PENNE, ITALIAN SEASONING, and CRUSHED RED PEPPER.
- Adjust heat to HIGH and bring everything just to a boil, stirring as needed.
- Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook until pasta is cooked through (about 15 min).
- Add HEAVY CREAM, SPINACH, and COOKED CHICKEN to the pasta and continue heating until warmed through, stirring as needed.
- Stir in PARMESAN CHEESE and serve warm.
- To store, allow chicken pasta to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or heavy cream to adjust consistency.
Nutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
I rarely comment online ... but had to for this recipe. It's DELICIOUS! I did make some minor changes/omissions. Added diced pancetta but did not add spinach as I didn't have any. The chicken breast I had meal prepped earlier in the week (cooked in white wine on 300 degrees F for 45 minutes ... then shredded and kept in air tight container).
The only change I would consider is to use less cream. My dish had a LOT of sauce ... which I soaked up with some crusty bread. On second thought ... I'll keep the sauce amount the same! Thanks!
Awesome, Lauren...love the Pancetta idea YUMMM! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe...thanks for the feedback 🙂
I made this for the family last night and everyone loved it. Followed the recipe almost exactly except I added mushrooms with the veggies. The pan sauce came out awesome. Will definitely make this again.
Awesome, Gabe! This is one of my absolute favs and I love the mushroom add-in idea...YUMM! Thanks for the feedback - I really appreciate it 🙂
Delicious, easy recipe, especially for a guy who doesn't cook much. Love the Chicken Vodka Pasta! Ten stars!
Awesome, JB! I'm soooo glad this one works so well for you 🙂 One-pot pasta doesn't get any more delicious than THIS!
This Pasta dish looks so delicious! Well seasoned and I love that it includes spinach and red peppers.
Thanks, Shanika! Yes...the spinach and peppers are my favvvvv addition 🙂
Yum! This looks so good. I love how quick the recipe is!
Thanks, Hannah! Yes, dinner in 30! 🙂
This looks great! Love the fresh ingredients and step by step instructions with pictures.
Thanks, Alison! Hope you enjoy!
I am taking a break from pasta, pizza, bread but I I'm going to try this with quinoa!
Thanks, Liz...hope you love it!
my favourite kind of recipe! Delicious and easy to make. The sauce was to die for. Thanks for sharing!
Haha that's exactly how we feel about it! Thanks, Courtney...so glad you enjoyed!
As a lover of Italian food, this pasta recipe is on my list to make! It sounds flavorful and delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Irina! Hope you love it like we do! 🙂
I love one pot dinners and the fact that this one cooks up so quickly makes it a winner in my book. This is one of my favorite dishes to get when I eat out.
Thanks, Vicky! If you are a penne alla vodka fan, you'll love this recipe! 🙂
One pot meals are the best thing ever. I am loving the looks of this recipe, it looks quite delicious - its a win with me!
Yay thanks, Denise! So glad to hear it! 🙂
I love one pan dinners for busy weeknights! They are so quick, and clean up is a breeze!
Thanks, Jordin! Meeee too! Chicken pasta = one pot and two plates 🙂
I love recipes like this one that make me feel like I went out to a nice restaurant but didn't have to pay the restaurant prices!! Budget friendly and delicious - perfect!!
Thanks, Beth! Yep, that's how we feel every time we make this recipe 🙂
This looks so yummy. I plan on making it very soon. I may add mushrooms I see so many ways I can play around after I make your version. Thanks for all the recipes. I no longer grab a cookbook since I have you providing so many great recipes.
Awesome, Joanne! Yes, mushrooms will be great in this dish! Love hearing this feedback and I'm glad you're enjoying my recipes 🙂