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One Pot Chicken Spinach Pasta is a simple, creamy weeknight dinner made in a single pot with minimal prep and almost no cleanup.
Tender chicken, pasta, spinach, and a rich tomato-cream sauce come together into a comforting meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
This is the kind of recipe you make when you want something warm and satisfying without standing over the stove or washing multiple pans. Everything cooks together, which means fewer dishes and more time to actually enjoy dinner.
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Chicken Spinach Pasta
- Made in one pot – no draining, no extra pans
- Ready in under 30 minutes
- Creamy but balanced, not heavy
- Family-friendly and great for leftovers
- Easy to customize with what you have on hand
This is a true weeknight staple – reliable, comforting, and practical.
A One-Pot Pasta That Actually Works
If you’ve ever been skeptical about one-pot pasta recipes, you’re not alone. It’s easy to assume the pasta won’t cook evenly or the sauce will turn watery.
This recipe proves otherwise.
Cooking the pasta directly with the chicken and liquid allows the starch to thicken the sauce naturally, while everything absorbs flavor as it cooks.
The result is a creamy, cohesive dish with perfectly cooked pasta and tender chicken – no shortcuts, just smart cooking.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients:
- Short pasta (penne works best)
- Chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- Water or a mix of water and chicken stock
- Marinara sauce
- Cream cheese (regular or reduced-fat)
- Fresh spinach
- Dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
You likely already have most of these on hand.
How to Make One Pot Chicken Spinach Pasta
1. Cook the pasta and chicken
Add pasta, water (or water + stock), chicken, oregano, and a pinch of salt to a deep pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente and the chicken is fully cooked.
2. Add the sauce and creaminess
Lower the heat and stir in the marinara sauce and cream cheese. Mix well until the cream cheese melts and creates a smooth, creamy sauce.
3. Finish with spinach
Add the spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes, just until wilted. The heat of the pasta is enough — don’t overcook it.
4. Serve
Remove from heat, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, taste, and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately.
Tips for Success
- Use a wide pot so the pasta cooks evenly
- Stir often while cooking to prevent sticking
- Cut chicken into small, even pieces for quick cooking
- If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water or milk
We love eating pasta at home and cook it at least once a week. This 20-Minute Pasta Carbonara and this Balsamic Bacon Mushroom Pasta recipes are some of my favorite ones. How about fettuccine with homemade pasta sauce?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes. Regular short pasta works well. You may need to add a little extra liquid and stir more frequently.
Absolutely. Boneless, skinless thighs stay very juicy and work perfectly here.
Pasta continues absorbing liquid as it rests. Add a small splash of water or milk and stir before serving.
Yes. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a bit of liquid to loosen the sauce.
One Pot Creamy Tomato Chicken Spinach Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 3 cups water, or 2 cups water + 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 jar marinara sauce, 12 oz
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a deep pot, combine pasta, water, chicken, oregano, and salt.
- Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often, until pasta is al dente and chicken is cooked through.
- Reduce heat and stir in marinara sauce, cream cheese, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Add spinach and cook 1–2 minutes until wilted.
- Remove from heat, top with Parmesan, adjust seasoning, and serve.
Notes
- Stir frequently to prevent sticking
- Add a splash of liquid if sauce thickens too much
- Great for leftovers and meal prep
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Barilla is such a good pasta! Definitely a favorite of mine too, especially the pronto kind. This one pot recipe looks SO good, Mira! Definitely my version of perfect comfort food. YUM!
Oh my gosh, this is pure easy comfort food, Mira! I’m dying over how ultra-ultra creamy the pasta looks and I love that it’s all completely one-pot too!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, MIRA!
I could eat this kind of dinner every. single. day!!!
I really like that you’ve combined a shop-bought pasta sauce with adding your own extra ‘bits and bobs’.
I’ve been hesitant to try this product as well (for the same reasons you mentioned). Your recipe turned out awesome… I have to try it now!
This pasta looks divine, Mira! Creamy tomato pasta is one of my favourite comfort foods and I love that it’s made in one-pot too! Happy New Year!
I always buy Barilla 🙂 And omg, look at how incredibly creamy that sauce looks! Simply gorgeous photos, Mira! I could certainly use a big bowl right about now!
Barilla is my favorite pasta to buy and this recipe is the perfect comfort food to warm up on these cold days. Delicious!
This will be a popular dish in my house! Love how creamy that sauce is and how quickly it comes together!!
Barilla has a really great products. The brand is quite popular here in Croatia. Love this one pot recipe Mira. So easy and so delicious! Sharing! Have a lovely weekend friend 😉
one pot meals are awesome! Love the flavors in this one Mira!