This chicken florentine is creamy, fragrant, and easy to make. The sauce is rich and flavorful, and your family will love it. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like, but it's so good you may not even need it. It's fast, easy, and scrumptious!
- Which Pasta Should You Use For This Recipe?
- Florentine - What is it?
- 30 Minute Healthy Pasta Recipe: Chicken Florentine
- What To Serve With Chicken Florentine
- What is the best way to store Chicken Florentine?
Which Pasta Should You Use For This Recipe?
Dagostino Pasta, of course! The best durum semolina wheat is used to make the pasta by Dagostino. Traditional bronze dies are used for cutting our pasta to maintain its authentic texture. This ensures a perfect cooking result that absorbs sauce flavors perfectly.
Unlike commercially produced pasta, Dagostino Pasta requires half the cooking time. It requires a lot of care to loop individual pieces of pasta around wooden rods or to lay them out in wooden cellars to air-dry for three days. Finally, our premium pasta is hand-packaged to ensure the freshest, most delicious pasta you'll ever taste. This is why this 30 Minute Healthy Pasta Dish is perfect for busy families that still want nutritious, tasty meals.
For Chicken Florentine, Dagostino Penne Rigate Pasta is needed-but you can substitute with any pasta noodles you wish, like our Fleur de Lis Shaped Pasta, for a fun twist!
The Perfect Pasta: How To Cook It
Here are some tips for cooking the perfect pasta for this chicken florentine recipe:
- Pasta should be cooked in a large pot with plenty of water - this will allow it to cook evenly and prevent it from sticking together.
- To enhance the flavor of the pasta, salt the water.
- Add the pasta to the pot once the water has reached a rolling boil.
- Upon adding the pasta, stir it thoroughly to prevent it from sticking together.
- Taste the pasta to determine when it is ready. Ideally, it should be al-dente, meaning slightly chewy. The noodles will continue to cook after they have been drained.
Florentine - What is it?
An Italian recipe with origins in Florence is referred to as Florentine. Florentine dishes typically contain spinach, cheese, and protein like fish or chicken. The following recipe includes classic ingredients from a chicken florentine and makes a delicious weeknight meal that is easy to prepare.
In France in the 1500's, a Florentine aristocrat, Catherine de Medici, married a French prince and gave rise to Florentine origin. Catherine did not want to leave behind her favorite recipes even if it meant leaving for France. Accordingly, she included spinach seeds and the best Florentine chefs in her relocation. The chefs prepared so many spinach dishes over time that the French termed this style of cooking "a la Florentine." While Chicken Florentine is an American interpretation of a Florentine-style dish, the creamy spinach sauce is consistent with the tradition.
30 Minute Healthy Pasta Recipe: Chicken Florentine
It is effortless to make this creamy chicken florentine pasta recipe on a weeknight, and it is delicious. This Italian-inspired dish is ready in less than 30 minutes and is not only easy to prepare. It is also full of flavor.
Ingredients
- One package of Dagostino Penne Rigate pasta
- Two tablespoons of butter
- Three minced garlic cloves
- Six ounces of fresh baby spinach
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- One pound chicken breast, skinless and boneless
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper, freshly ground
- Half a teaspoon of oregano
- Half a cup of white wine
- Two and a half cups of heavy cream
- Two cups of shredded mozzarella
- Half a cup of cup grated parmesan cheese
- Four ounces of reduced-fat cream cheese
- One teaspoon of salt
- Half a teaspoon of pepper
- One fourth a teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- One-third a cup of Italian-style panko bread crumbs
Cooking Instructions
- Follow the package directions when cooking pasta. Drain.
- Using a 6-qt. Dutch oven on medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook and stir garlic for 30 seconds. Stir spinach just until it wilts, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Over medium/high heat, add olive oil to the pot. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and oregano on each side of each chicken breast. Let each side cook for 8 minutes, or until the chicken is done. After the chicken has rested for five minutes, cut it into thin strips.
- Deglaze the pan with white wine in the same dutch oven. Once the wine has simmered, scrape the pieces of chicken into the center. They contain a tremendous amount of flavor. Finally, add the heavy cream and simmer until thickened. Stir in the mozzarella, parmesan, and cream cheese gradually. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Continue cooking until all of the cheese has melted and is smooth.
- Add the pasta to the sauce and toss well. Combine the spinach mixture with the chicken. Top with bread crumbs. Enjoy immediately!
Cook time: 30 minutes. Serving Size: 3-4.
Cooking Tips for Chicken Florentine
- Cook the pasta until it is al dente.
- If possible, use free-range or organic chicken.
- If you prefer, white wine may be substituted with white grape juice or chicken stock.
- Serve the pasta immediately so that it remains hot and fresh.
- Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheated.
What to Serve with Chicken Florentine
There are many different side dishes you can pair with this 30-minute healthy pasta recipe. Try Florentine Potatoes, Rice with Spinach, or even Portabella Mushrooms with Garlic Orzo for an adventure to flavor-town!
What is the best way to store Chicken Florentine?
The meal can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight container. You can also freeze this meal for up to three months.
