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Creamy one pot chicken spinach pasta with sun-dried tomatoes

Creamy chicken spinach pasta with sun dried tomatoes is a crowd pleaser every single time. This comforting and delicious 30 minute meal is full of flavor, and because it is made in one pot, the cleanup is quick and easy.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You may also be interested in my roasted vegetable pasta and my cheesy taco pasta recipes. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my one pot meals in one place.

Chicken spinach pasta with sun-dried tomatoes in a wide shallow bowl with a fork.

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Creamy sun dried tomato chicken pasta

We all need quick and easy recipes that we can make without much fuss. This is that kind of meal. It’s comfort food that tastes amazing, everyone will eat it without complaint and it’s really easy to make and clean up. For me, I can’t ask for anything more.

One pot creamy sun dried tomato and spinach pasta with chicken is perfect for family dinner, but it is also something I’d serve to friends for a dinner party. It’s rustic and delicious.

Life can get pretty hectic and we all need to an easy win sometimes. This one pot meal comes together in under a half hour and delivers an incredibly tasty victory.

Two bowls of chicken spinach sundried tomato pasta with two glasses behind the bowls, and a yellow kitchen towel.

What you need to know

This chicken sun dried tomato spinach pasta is one of those easy weeknight dinners that I really love. Sometimes easy can translate into not so delicious, but this friends, is so full of flavor! The sauce is incredible and we eat every last bite of it.

The recipe calls for puréed sun dried tomatoes. Please don’t skip this step. By pureeing the tomatoes, they become part of the sauce and that my friends, is gold! The cream, tomato purée and parmesan are a combination that is heavenly. I have a mini food processor that is perfect for blending up small amounts like this.

If you can’t find shallots in your market, red onion is a great substitute. The shallot is a milder flavor, which is nice here. I prefer them in dishes that call for a mild onion flavor. 

Ingredients

Ingredients for chicken spinach pasta on a white background.
  • Chicken – I used boneless, skinless chicken breast. You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
  • Short pasta – For this chicken sun dried tomato pasta, use short pasta such as penne, fusilli, ziti, farfalle, etc.
  • Chicken stock – Low sodium stock or broth is a good option.
  • Cream – Light cream or half and half will give you the best results.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes – Look for the sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, not dried. The dried variety won’t yield the same results.
  • Garlic and shallot – These aromatics give our meal tons of flavor.
    • Substitute: Red onion is a good substitute for shallots.
  • Butter – Unsalted butter will help you control the amount of salt.
  • Spinach – Baby spinach is my preference, because it is tender and it works really well here.
  • Cheese – Grated or shredded parmesan cheese adds great flavor.
  • Salt and pepper – All food needs to be seasoned.
Side by side photos of pureed sundried tomatoes in a food processor and a diced shallot on a cutting board.

How to make

Here’s a quick summary of how to make one pot chicken spinach pasta. Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe. 

Step by step photos showing how to make one pot chicken spinach pasta with sun-dried tomatoes.

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  1. Brown – Melt butter in a large skillet, then brown the chicken. Flip the chicken over, add in shallots and garlic.
  2. Add – When the shallots begin to soften, add stock, cream, tomato puree and pasta. Stir, then cover and let it cook until pasta and chicken are cooked through.
  3. Remove – Take the chicken out of the pan and let it rest for a few minutes. Add spinach to the pan and let it wilt.
  4. Slice – Slice the chicken breasts and add them back to the chicken spinach pasta, top with cheese and serve.
Creamy chicken spinach pasta with sun dried tomatoes in a teal pot with a yellow towel in the background.

Chicken spinach pasta FAQ’s

Do you have to purée the sun-dried tomatoes?

Ideally, yes, but if you have good knife skills, you can chop them up very finely to add to the sauce.
When you toss the sliced sun dried tomatoes into the pot, they are a part of the dish. It will still taste great, but that’s not exactly the same.  What we want is for the tomatoes to become part of the sauce.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this a day ahead of time. When re-heating, you will need a little extra chicken stock + cream, because the pasta will absorb some of it.

How long will it last in the fridge?

This chicken spinach pasta will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container.

Creamy chicken tomato spinach pasta in bowls with forks. There are drinks in the background, and a yellow kitchen towel.

Variations and substitutions

  • Spicy – Add in a pinch of chipotle or ancho chili powder to give it a spicy, smoky kick.
  • Chicken thighs – Use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
  • Olive oil – Swap out the butter with olive oil, if you prefer.

Helpful tools and equipment

Creamy chicken and pasta with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and cheese in wide shallow bowls with drinks in the background.

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Chicken spinach pasta with sun-dried tomatoes in a wide shallow bowl with a fork.

One pot chicken spinach pasta with sun-dried tomato sauce

Cheryl Bennett
Fast, easy, and delicious, creamy one pot chicken spinach pasta with sun-dried tomatoes is perfect for weeknight cooking.
4.96 from 23 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course One Pot Meals
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 569 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast 454g
  • ½ lb. short pasta penne, fusilli, ziti, farfalle / 227g
  • 2 cups chicken stock or broth 500ml
  • ½ cup light cream or half and half 125ml
  • 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained, pureéd
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large shallot diced (or 1/2 of a red onion)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3 cups baby spinach lightly packed / 90g
  • ½ cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese 50g
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Italian parsley chopped, for garnish, optional

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Season chicken with half of the salt and pepper, add to pan and cook until golden brown (about 6-8 minutes). Flip chicken over.
  • Add the shallots and garlic, cook until softened. Add chicken stock, cream, sun dried tomato puree and pasta. Stir to combine.
  • Cover, lower heat to medium low, and cook until pasta is al dente. (The cooking time for your pasta will vary depending on the type of pasta – check the box for cooking times)
  • Remove from heat, take chicken out of the pan and set aside.
    Add spinach, the remaining salt & pepper, and half of the cheese. Stir and cover to wilt spinach. Slice the chicken into thin, even pieces.
  • Add sliced chicken back to the pan and sprinkle with remaining cheese, and herbs, if desired.

Notes

  • If you do not have a small food processor, you can very finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes instead. Then proceed with the recipe as written.
*Exact nutritional information will depend on the specific brands used. The information provided is an estimate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 569kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 44gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 1483mgPotassium: 1795mgFiber: 6gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 2615IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 192mgIron: 5mg
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Originally published 2/5/17. Most recent update 4/17/25.

10 Comments

  1. By far my favorite Pook’s Pantry recipe! This dish is rich and flavorful, easy to make, and a staple in our house.

4.96 from 23 votes (22 ratings without comment)

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