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Chicken Florentine Pasta is made in one skillet in just 25 minutes with diced chicken, penne pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy Parmesan sauce! This one skillet recipe is perfect for busy nights!
Get ready for a simple one dish dinner!
One Dish Dinner Winner
Saucy pasta is one of my go-to weeknight recipes, especially if I can manage to cook the pasta and the sauce and the rest of mix-ins all together in one dish. That’s a dinner time success in my book!
This Chicken Florentine Pasta is made in one skillet, loaded with chunks of tender chicken, tossed with a creamy Parmesan sauce that packs big flavor from the sun-dried tomatoes, and there is spinach involved so this is basically a super food. <— At least that’s what I tell myself as I go back for seconds.
We really love a saucy pasta moment, especially when sun-dried tomatoes are involved. They add such a big, bright flavor to every dish, like in our Greek turkey burgers. Obsessed.
And if chicken and spinach aren’t your thing? I have a smoked sausage version of this dish that is just the best thing ever. Get the recipe for the sun-dried tomato pasta recipe.
Or skip the pasta and go for my enchilada skillet! These dishes are great for the summer since you don’t have to heat up the oven!
What Is Chicken Florentine?
The term florentine comes from the city of Florence, in Italy, and is a way of preparing chicken with a creamy sauce and spinach! If this sounds a bit like a Tuscan recipe, that’s because Florence is in Tuscany.
Our creamy Tuscan white bean soup is another delicious option if you love Italian food.
Ingredient Notes:
Chicken – We prefer chicken breasts, but you can use thighs or tenderloins as well! Just chop them up nice and small.
Sweet Onion – We add onion to this pasta, but it’s easy to leave this out for picky eaters.
Penne Pasta – We’re using penne, but any small shape of pasta will work just fine.
Chicken Broth – I’d recommend using a good quality chicken broth that you know has lots of great flavor. The penne pasta is going to soak all that broth up so it will make big difference on the flavors.
Half and Half – This is a mixture of half whole milk and half heavy cream. In the US, you can buy this near the cream. Alternately, you can make your own by just combining the two.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes – I love the flavor of sun-dried tomatoes! I’m using the kind that are not packed in oil for this recipe. They add wonderful tomato flavor to the pasta.
Parmesan Cheese – Grate your own for the best results! Do not use the powdered kind in the green shaker can.
Baby Spinach – This is an easy way to work some extra nutrition into the pasta, plus it just tastes good! The baby spinach provides flavor and texture.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
What We Love About This CHICKEN FLORENTINE PASTA Recipe:
- One Skillet: This recipe is simple with everything prepared in one skillet, including the pasta! That makes for less mess and clean up.
- 30 Minutes: We love a quick dinner and this one is done in less than 30 minutes!
- Flavors: The sun-dried tomato in the rich, creamy Parmesan sauce with the tender pasta and savory, juicy chicken is pretty much perfect!
How To Make Chicken Florentine Pasta:
Dice up the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and brown in a large skillet. Toss in the onions to soften as well.
Add the pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, and half and half to the skillet. Give it a stir and bring to a boil. Cook covered for about 12 minutes.
Sprinkle on the Parmesan and give the mixture a stir. The pasta should be tender and lightly coated in a creamy sauce.
Add the spinach to the skillet, cover, and let sit off the heat for 5 minutes to wilt the spinach. Give it a stir and serve hot!
Chicken Florentine Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound chicken breasts diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cups half and half
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 ounces fresh baby spinach rinsed and dried
Instructions
- Heat a 12 inch skillet over medium heat and add the butter to melt. Stir to coat the pan.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the chicken is browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion to the pan and cook 2 more minutes, stirring often.
- Add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Pour in the broth and half and half. Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer.
- Cook for 12 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- Remove the lid and stir in the grated cheese until melted.
- Stir in the spinach. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes to wilt spinach.
- Stir well before serving.
Natalia & Nicole says
We are seriously drooling over here! This pasta looks incredible and hard to believe that it can be made so quickly. What a perfect week night meal. xo
cakespy says
I can’t believe how quickly this comes together! It looks delicious and hearty and so satisfying.
Shadi says
I love how you made every recipe look so easy and simple to make! I have everything I need to make this delicious pasta so, this is going to happen very soon! <3
Karly says
Hope you love it!! 🙂
Blair says
You totally need to share a before-and-after hair extensions photo! I’d love to see how they turn out! Being girly is fun, but it can be tough to motivate out of the yoga pants. 🙂 Good for you!
The pasta looks amazing, too…
Amy @ The Blond Cook says
Ohhhhh creamy, cheesy pasta, chicken and spinach in one pan sounds delicious! As I sit here in my shorts, plain tee, flip flops, visor and no jewelry I totally understand where you’re coming from! One of my good friends got extensions recently for thickness and a little length and she loves it! And it looks so natural too. I was like, “Dang what kind of hair vitamins are you taking?”. 🙂
Claire @ Easy Pasta Sauces says
This looks delicious!!!
Heading over to pin this right now!
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
I love everything about this dish!!!! I mean it is pasta and it is ready in under half an hour!!!!
I suffer from localised alopecia. About 2 years ago all of my hair fell out. At the time I was devastated, but when it grew back it was so much thicker and healthier. Every now and again I lose a clump in the shower, but I do panic. I love the idea of hair extensions, I think your hair really does represent more of you than you think.
Caffa says
looks Great! Can’t wait to try. I need a meal to preare and freeze – what do you think about this recipe maybe under cook slightly, cool, freeze??? Your thoughts!
Mary Randall says
Did you get an answer about freezing this recipe? I would think you could but I was wondering the same thing
kelli @ hungry hobby says
I’m obsessed with skillet meals!
Jas @All that's Jas says
I’m bringing my fork, Karly! That looks delicious! 🙂 Love one-pan dishes. I recently made chicken rice one-pan dish that is our family favorite and I’m adding your chicken pasta recipe to the to-make list. Pinned!
dezi says
Hi Karly! Your story about being more girly and wanting hair extensions could have been written about me. Long ago, my sister died unexpectedly and I lost about 25-30% of my hair. Terrible time in my life and thank goodness the Lord carried me through it, but I wanted my hair back. So, about 2 years ago, I bought extensions not for the length but for the volume, like you. I love them, Karly. You can do a lot with them. Here is the thing……..after wearing them for a while you will look forward to taking them out and running your fingers through your hair, so to speak. What I mean is, I REALLY like the look of my extensions, but I can’t wait to get home and take them out and toss my hair up in a bun or any other hap-hazard style without pulling on the extensions (where they are clipped in). I think you will enjoy yours, too. Thank you for your recipes and stories. Dezi
Karly says
That sounds like such a tough time in your life, Dezi. I can’t imagine losing a sister.
As for the extensions, I’m actually getting them fused in so they’ll stay in for 4 months or so at a time – no taking them out. I’m a little nervous that I’m going to want to be yanking them out, especially before bed, but my fingers are crossed that the thickness they add will be worth the pain! 🙂
Bryn says
You HAVE to post about the extensions. Please? My hair is so super thin after thyroid issues and I’ve been on the fence about trying them…
Karly says
Yes!! I’m sure I’ll post about them on my Insta stories tomorrow if you want to check it out. Otherwise, I’ll try to remember to mention it here too! 🙂 http://www.instagram.com/bunsinmyoven 🙂
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says
Eeek, good luck with the extensions! Hopefully they’ll be easy and fabulous and you’ll be thrilled with your gorgeous thick hair 🙂 As for dinner, sign me up for this! I love chicken Florentine flavors and this sounds so yummy mixed in with the pasta and ready so fast! And definitely give me ALL the onions!
Jen | So Damn Delish says
Although I’ve never tried hair extensions my sister has with great luck! But, let’s talk this one skillet chicken florentine skillet. 😉 I’m all about anything in under 30 minutes that only takes one dish to make. ?? This is totally going on my table and into my belly very soon!
Kylie says
25 minutes? Yep! Trying this for sure! Love this. I just got a new pasta machine (that makes it’s own pasta without me working) and this looks like the perfect recipe to put it to the test. And husbands who don’t eat onions? Must be a different species!
Karly says
What?? I need a link to that machine!