This elegant and flavorful dish features tender chicken breasts cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce, served over a bed of wilted spinach and tagliatelle pasta. It’s a perfect weeknight meal that feels special.
Ingredients:
- For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Mushroom Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Spinach and Pasta:
- 1 pound tagliatelle pasta
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook the Chicken:
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Mushroom Sauce:
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 5-7 minutes, until softened and browned.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese.
- Add the chopped parsley and thyme leaves.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Cook the Pasta:
- Cook the tagliatelle pasta according to the package directions, until al dente.
- Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- Wilt the Spinach:
- In a separate skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the fresh spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes, until wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Dish:
- Add the cooked pasta to the mushroom sauce and toss to coat. Add a little pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Place a bed of wilted spinach on each plate.
- Top with the pasta and chicken breasts.
- Spoon the creamy mushroom sauce over the chicken and pasta.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately.
Tips and Notes:
- Chicken Variations: You can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts for a richer flavor.
- Mushroom Variations: You can use other types of mushrooms, such as shiitake or oyster mushrooms.
- Pasta Variations: You can use other types of pasta, such as fettuccine or linguine.
- Add Vegetables: You can add other vegetables to the sauce, such as onions, bell peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Wine Addition: Add a splash of white wine to the sauce for extra flavor.
- Garnish: Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.
Enjoy your delicious Creamy Mushroom Chicken with Spinach and Tagliatelle!