Garlic Chicken Pasta with Spinach

This Garlic Chicken Pasta with Spinach is loaded with flavor, and can be on the table in 30 minutes. It’s a great way to get your family to eat spinach and actually enjoy it!

I like to round out the meal with sides like sweet boiled carrots or cream cheese fruit salad.

I found this easy chicken pasta recipe at Mel’s Kitchen Cafe over a decade ago. The original recipe was pretty tasty, but I wanted it a bit more saucy. It’s been tweaked a few times over the years.

I replaced some of the olive oil with cream and pasta water. It’s not swimming in sauce, but it is a little more creamy and delicious. There’s just enough garlic sauce to coat the pasta.

I love the fresh flavor of the lemon juice with the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese. The tender chicken pieces have a nice garlic-y taste, and the red pepper adds just a bit of a kick.

How to make garlic chicken spinach pasta:

1. PASTA – Cook pasta in salted boiling water in a large stainless steel pan until barely tender. Drain and reserve some of the water. Return the pasta to the pot.
2. GARLIC OIL – In a small glass bowl, heat the olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes for 30-60 seconds in the microwave, just until fragrant.
3. CHICKEN – While the water comes to a boil, cut the chicken into one inch pieces. Season it with the salt and pepper. Heat a tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet. Cook half of the chicken over medium high heat, then add to the cooked pasta. Repeat with the remaining oil and chicken.
4. COMBINE – Add the spinach, basil, lemon juice, parmesan, cream, pasta water, the pasta, and chicken. Cook and stir over medium heat until cheese melts.
5. SERVE – If desired, garnish with additional parmesan and basil.

PRO TIPS:

• Don’t overcook the noodles. You want al dente pasta because it will soak up some of the sauce, and nothing’s worse than soggy pasta!
• I like to use baby spinach for this recipe because it’s more tender.
• For best results, use a good quality parmesan cheese. The stuff in the green can doesn’t melt quite as well.

SPINACH CHICKEN PASTA VARIATIONS:

• For a lighter dish, you can use whole milk in place of the heavy whipping cream.
• Use whole wheat pasta for more nutrients and a boost of fiber.
• If you really want a potent lemon flavor, add some lemon zest to the sauce.

MORE PASTA DISHES FOR BUSY WEEKNIGHTS:

• Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta
• Cheesy Beef Taco Pasta Recipe
• Shredded Chicken Casserole
• Smoked Sausage Pasta Bake
• BBQ Chicken Casserole
• Pepperoni Casserole
• Chicken Broccoli Pasta
• Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef

Recipe originally published 2/23/2010, updated March 2025.

This garlic spinach chicken pasta tastes like comfort food, but it doesn’t have a heavy sauce, so it’s healthier than a lot of chicken pasta recipes.