Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is a rich, high-protein pasta dish made with savory chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and tender pasta in a creamy parmesan sauce.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta noodles cooked al dente according to package instructions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 pound ground chicken or turkey
- 1/2 packet (about 1½ tablespoons) Italian salad dressing mix*
- 1 cup half and half heavy cream works too
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese I use 4%, the higher the fat content the better
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups fresh baby spinach
- fresh parsley for garnish
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add 8 ounces penne pasta noodles to a pot of boiling salted water. Cook al dente according to package instructions.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil in a large pan or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the 1 pound ground chicken or turkey and cook over medium to medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces. As the meat finishes browning, incorporate the 1/2 packet (about 1½ tablespoons) Italian salad dressing mix*.
- Meanwhile make the cream sauce by combining 1 cup half and half, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese in a food processor or small blender, and blend until combined. Transfer to a saucepan, add 1/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, and simmer on low heat until it thickens.
- After the sauce thickens, combine your drained pasta noodles, ground meat, cream sauce, and 1 ½ cups fresh baby spinach in the pasta pot.
- Gently stir everything together. Let it cook for a minute or two, just until the spinach is wilted.
- Serve topped with more parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or basil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
* To substitute an Italian seasoning packet. This homemade blend is a copycat for Good Seasons Zesty Italian Salad Dressing and Recipe Mix. Three tablespoons of this homemade mix is equal to one packet, and you would need 1 ½ tablespoons.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 547mg | Potassium: 1043mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1505IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 238mg | Iron: 2mg