This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is one of those comforting, restaurant-style meals that comes together surprisingly fast. Juicy paprika-seasoned chicken is tossed with a rich, creamy tomato sauce made with cherry tomatoes, garlic, cream, and spinach, then finished with pasta, fresh basil, and optional Parmesan. It’s cozy, flavorful, and perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Creamy, rich, and packed with flavor without being heavy
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Comes together in under 40 minutes
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Uses simple, everyday ingredients
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Easy to customize with different pasta shapes or vegetables
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Feels like a restaurant meal but is very doable at home
Ingredients
For the Chicken
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100–200g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized cubes
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2 tsp paprika
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1 tsp black pepper
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1 tsp salt
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1 tbsp oil
For the Sauce
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2 tbsp butter
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1 medium onion, finely chopped
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2 garlic cloves, chopped
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1 tbsp tomato paste
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400g cherry tomatoes (fresh or canned; I use multi cherry tomatoes)
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3 tsp paprika
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1 cube sugar
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2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
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2 tsp garlic powder
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2 tsp black pepper
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150 ml heavy cream (plus extra if needed)
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100g baby spinach
To Finish
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250g pasta of choice, boiled
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50 ml reserved pasta water
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Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
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Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Step 1: Marinate and Cook the Chicken
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In a bowl, season the chicken cubes with paprika, black pepper, and salt.
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Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
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Add the chicken and cook for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through.
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Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Step 2: Build the Sauce Base
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In the same pan, add butter and allow it to melt.
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Add the chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent.
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Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Tomato Cream Sauce
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Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
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Add the cherry tomatoes, paprika, sugar cube, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
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Let the tomatoes cook and soften for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Pour in 100 ml of the heavy cream and add the spinach. Cook until the spinach wilts.
Step 4: Combine Everything
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Add the boiled pasta directly to the sauce.
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Return the cooked chicken to the pan.
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Add reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
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Add more cream if you prefer a richer, creamier texture.
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Stir in fresh basil and grated Parmesan if using.
Step 5: Serve
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Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
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Serve hot with extra Parmesan and basil on top.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 100 –200g chicken breast cut into bite-sized cubes
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp oil
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 400 g cherry tomatoes fresh or canned; I use multi cherry tomatoes
- 3 tsp paprika
- 1 cube sugar
- 2 tsp salt adjust to taste
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 150 ml heavy cream plus extra if needed
- 100 g baby spinach
To Finish
- 250 g pasta of choice boiled
- 50 ml reserved pasta water
- Parmesan cheese grated (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- In a bowl, season the chicken cubes with paprika, black pepper, and salt.
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add butter and allow it to melt.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, paprika, sugar cube, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Let the tomatoes cook and soften for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in 100 ml of the heavy cream and add the spinach. Cook until the spinach wilts.
- Add the boiled pasta directly to the sauce.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan.
- Add reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Add more cream if you prefer a richer, creamier texture.
- Stir in fresh basil and grated Parmesan if using.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve hot with extra Parmesan and basil on top.
