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Creamy ground chicken pasta dish garnished with herbs in a bowl

Creamy Ground Chicken Pasta

A quick and easy creamy pasta dish featuring ground chicken, fresh spinach, and cherry tomatoes, all enveloped in a rich sauce, perfect for a comforting dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 12 oz Pasta (your favorite shape)
Sauce Base
  • 2 cups Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth) Can use vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.
  • 1 cup Marinara Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream (can substitute with half-and-half)
Proteins
  • 1 lb Ground Chicken (or turkey, pork, or beef) Any ground meat works well.
Vegetables
  • 1 medium Onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced) Toasting the garlic enhances the flavor.
  • 4 cups Spinach (or kale or Swiss chard) Add at the last moment to retain freshness.
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
Seasonings
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil (for sautéing)
  • 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning (or oregano or basil)
  • 1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
Cheese
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese (grated) Feel free to experiment with different kinds of cheese.

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Start by boiling a pot of salted water.
  2. Add your pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
  3. Drain and set aside.
Preparing the Sauce
  1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
  2. Sauté 1 diced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves until fragrant.
  3. Add 1 lb ground chicken and cook until browned.
  4. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 cup marinara sauce, and 2 cups chicken broth. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
Combining Pasta and Sauce
  1. Slowly stir in 1 cup heavy cream, 4 cups spinach, and 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes.
  2. Season with 1 tbsp Italian seasoning and 1 tsp salt.
  3. Finally, fold in the cooked pasta and top with 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese, letting it melt into creamy perfection.

Notes

This dish keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container. Freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Reheat with a splash of chicken broth to regain creamy texture. Great for leftovers as flavors meld better over time.