Chicken Florentine Skillet

We really love the Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta that I first made last summer. I’ve been including it on our menus regularly. Because it is so easy to prepare, I decided to modify some of the ingredients to create a dish with an entirely different flavor.

The result was excellent! We’ve thoroughly enjoyed this Chicken Florentine Skillet. In fact, just like the Cajun variety, it has become a regular feature on our menu.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1.5 tablespoons Tuscan seasoning (use Italian seasoning if you don’t have Tuscan)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 14 oz. pasta (I used farfalle, but penne, rotini, etc. would all work)
• 1 can (15 oz.) Italian diced tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup frozen chopped spinach

Instructions

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, then coat in the Tuscan seasoning.

In a Dutch oven or high-walled skillet, heat the oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for a few minutes on each side (the chicken does not need to be thoroughly cooked at this point).

Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Continue to sauté for about 2 minutes, or until the veggies begin to soften. Add the pasta, the Italian diced tomatoes (with the juices), and the chicken broth. Stir until combined, then cover with a lid and allow the broth to come to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the pasta simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

Add the cream cheese in chunks, then stir until it has melted into the sauce. Gently stir in the chopped spinach. Continue cooking until thoroughly heated. Yield: 6 servings.

Notes

This dish has such a great flavor. My husband does not like bell pepper or spinach, but he likes this dish. I think it is because all the ingredients meld together to make a delicious, cohesive flavor. I like that the sauce is creamy, but not as heavy as something like an Alfredo sauce.

Besides the flavor, my favorite thing about this pasta is that it is prepared in just one dish. This means that it can be prepared quickly, plus cleanup is super easy. This is exactly what I need on busy weeknights!

What easy-to-prepare meals have you been making lately? I’d love to hear about them!

Shared at the following:

Encouraging Hearts and Home, Busy Monday, and Weekend Potluck.