Chicken penne florentine is a delicious and popular Italian-inspired pasta dish that typically includes chicken, penne pasta, spinach (representing the “Florentine” part of the name), and a creamy sauce.
INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
8 ounces penne pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 cups fresh spinach leaves
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Optional: red and yellow bell peppers
Instructions
Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they are browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and chopped onion. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic becomes fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the spinach leaves to the skillet and cook until they wilt, stirring occasionally. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts and forms a creamy sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Add the cooked penne pasta and cooked chicken back into the skillet. Stir everything together until the pasta and chicken are coated with the creamy sauce.
Allow the dish to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, to ensure that everything is heated through.
Remove the skillet from the heat and serve the chicken penne florentine hot. You can garnish it with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Enjoy your homemade chicken penne florentine! Feel free to modify the recipe by adding other vegetables or herbs to suit your taste.
Enjoy!
Thank you for trying this recipe. Please let me know how you liked it.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please take a look at other recipes on my fast, simple and good pasta and chicken pages.
Chicken Penne Florentine