Chicken Florentine Pasta in a light creamy sauce is an easy 30-minute weeknight meal (it actually doesn’t have any cream in it at all!). In case you’re wondering what in the world “florentine” means: It’s a fancy name for foods that are served with spinach. But doesn’t the name take you to the patio of a bistro in Paris?
The spinach in this pasta is vibrant, healthy and tasty. Also, this method for cooking chicken produces some seriously tender chicken strips and it’s so easy because you don’t have to slice any raw chicken ?. You’ll wonder where this method has been all your life.
P.S. This chicken florentine pasta also reheats really well – creamy as ever!
Ingredients for Chicken Florentine Pasta:
8 oz linguine pasta, cooked to package instructions
2 small/medium boneless skinless chicken breasts
Olive oil to sauté
1 bunch green onion, (1 cup chopped) (green and white parts)
1/2 lb button mushrooms (white or brown)
Ingredients for the Sauce:
2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2-3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
4 cups fresh baby spinach, loosely packed
Freshly grated parmesan to serve
How to Make Chicken Florentine Pasta:
1. Cook pasta according to package instructions then drain and set aside (while pasta cooks, continue with step 2).
I love that this 6 Qt dutch oven is wide enough to fit the length of the pasta without bending noodles to squeeze them in. Enter to win this below!!
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large, deep pan over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp oil. Add chicken and sauté the first side until golden brown (5 minutes), flip, cover and sauté another 5 min or until done. Remove from pan and rest 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
3. In the same pan, add 1 Tbsp oil if needed along with sliced mushrooms and green onion. Sauté until soft and golden (5 minutes). Remove from pan and set aside.
4. In the same pan, add 2 Tbsp butter, 3 Tbsp flour and pressed garlic then whisk 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of chicken broth then 1 cup milk. Bring to a simmer and whisk until smooth and starting to turn creamy (2 min). Add spinach and stir until wilted (1 min). Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper or season to taste.
5. Add sliced chicken, sautéed mushrooms and drained pasta and toss to combine. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
