This chicken florentine pasta is made in one skillet and ready in 25 minutes!
So, I’ve been on a mission lately to be more…girly.
I’ve been getting my nails done.
Wearing jewelry every now and then.
Buying pants that are not made for yoga and maybe even are made of denim. (No dresses or anything, though. Let’s not get too crazy.)
Shirts that are not tees. You know. That kind of thing.
It’s going well so far, I guess.
I mean. My nails are pink? My earrings are in. My husband seems to appreciate it. I feel better about myself when I do these things.
The next project? Mah hair.
I’ve been dying it myself from a box ever since my hair stylist moved to Hollywood to do hair and make up for movie stars (true story, she’s amazing, I’m sad).
Soooo, it’s been kind of bad.
I mean, I once messed it up so much I had to strip the color and start over and since then my thin, fine hair has just been dead and damaged and really kind of pitiful.
Soooo, I found a new lady and she dyed it and it’s looking a little healthier and you guys, I’m getting extensions this week.
Not for length, but for thickness. I’m freaking out.
This will be the most girly thing I’ve ever done in my life and I’m so super excited about it.
Curious to hear any of your hair extension experiences? I’m worried about getting headaches from the added weight or accidentally giving myself bald spots by yanking them out when brushing or just generally tossing alllllllthemoney down the drain by getting them and hating them. Tell me your experiences!!
(Update: Now that I’ve had them for over 6 months, I can safely say that I loooooove my keratin bond extensions and can’t imagine life without them. I’m on my second set now. Yes, they’re very expensive and I hate spending so much money on something as trivial as hair, but they make me feel so much better about my looks. And, also, curling and straightening and just generally doing things to my hair is so much fun now! Highly recommend.)
And now, to completely change subjects, let’s talk about DINNER.
Because we all love dinner, especially this one considering it’s a chicken dinner that’s made in one skillet with minimal prep and clean up andddddd did I mention it’s ready in like 25 minutes? Whew.
I’m all about the one dish pasta dinners. Nobody wants to boil a huge pot of water for pasta when they can just chuck some dry pasta in a skillet with the rest of the ingredients, right?
Besides, the flavors of the dish really meld together when the pasta is cooked with the good stuff.
This one is cheesy perfection.
I added in sun-dried tomatoes, because I love them, and spinach, because my kids need vegetables every now and then.
This was a total winner with everyone in my house except for my husband because he hates onions. Not to worry, I’m in the process of searching for an onion-loving husband now. I’ll keep you posted.
Anyway, give this one a try and let me know what you think!
And if chicken and spinach aren’t your thing? I have a smoked sausage version of this dish that is just the best thing ever. Get the recipe for the sun-dried tomato pasta recipe.
Or skip the pasta and go for my enchilada skillet! These dishes are great for the summer since you don’t have to heat up the oven!
And that gorgeous enchilada skillet up there? Ready in just 20 minutes. Winning!
Chicken Florentine Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound chicken breasts diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes not packed in oil
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cups half and half
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 ounces fresh baby spinach rinsed and dried
Instructions
- Heat a 12 inch skillet over medium heat and add the butter to melt. Stir to coat the pan.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the chicken is browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion to the pan and cook 2 more minutes, stirring often.
- Add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Pour in the broth and half and half. Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer.
- Cook for 12 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- Remove the lid and stir in the grated cheese until melted.
- Stir in the spinach. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes to wilt spinach.
- Stir well before serving.
Natalia & Nicole says
We are seriously drooling over here! This pasta looks incredible and hard to believe that it can be made so quickly. What a perfect week night meal. xo
cakespy says
I can’t believe how quickly this comes together! It looks delicious and hearty and so satisfying.
Shadi says
I love how you made every recipe look so easy and simple to make! I have everything I need to make this delicious pasta so, this is going to happen very soon! <3
Karly says
Hope you love it!! 🙂
Blair says
You totally need to share a before-and-after hair extensions photo! I’d love to see how they turn out! Being girly is fun, but it can be tough to motivate out of the yoga pants. 🙂 Good for you!
The pasta looks amazing, too…
Amy @ The Blond Cook says
Ohhhhh creamy, cheesy pasta, chicken and spinach in one pan sounds delicious! As I sit here in my shorts, plain tee, flip flops, visor and no jewelry I totally understand where you’re coming from! One of my good friends got extensions recently for thickness and a little length and she loves it! And it looks so natural too. I was like, “Dang what kind of hair vitamins are you taking?”. 🙂
Claire @ Easy Pasta Sauces says
This looks delicious!!!
Heading over to pin this right now!
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
I love everything about this dish!!!! I mean it is pasta and it is ready in under half an hour!!!!
I suffer from localised alopecia. About 2 years ago all of my hair fell out. At the time I was devastated, but when it grew back it was so much thicker and healthier. Every now and again I lose a clump in the shower, but I do panic. I love the idea of hair extensions, I think your hair really does represent more of you than you think.
Caffa says
looks Great! Can’t wait to try. I need a meal to preare and freeze – what do you think about this recipe maybe under cook slightly, cool, freeze??? Your thoughts!
Mary Randall says
Did you get an answer about freezing this recipe? I would think you could but I was wondering the same thing
kelli @ hungry hobby says
I’m obsessed with skillet meals!
Jas @All that's Jas says
I’m bringing my fork, Karly! That looks delicious! 🙂 Love one-pan dishes. I recently made chicken rice one-pan dish that is our family favorite and I’m adding your chicken pasta recipe to the to-make list. Pinned!
dezi says
Hi Karly! Your story about being more girly and wanting hair extensions could have been written about me. Long ago, my sister died unexpectedly and I lost about 25-30% of my hair. Terrible time in my life and thank goodness the Lord carried me through it, but I wanted my hair back. So, about 2 years ago, I bought extensions not for the length but for the volume, like you. I love them, Karly. You can do a lot with them. Here is the thing……..after wearing them for a while you will look forward to taking them out and running your fingers through your hair, so to speak. What I mean is, I REALLY like the look of my extensions, but I can’t wait to get home and take them out and toss my hair up in a bun or any other hap-hazard style without pulling on the extensions (where they are clipped in). I think you will enjoy yours, too. Thank you for your recipes and stories. Dezi
Karly says
That sounds like such a tough time in your life, Dezi. I can’t imagine losing a sister.
As for the extensions, I’m actually getting them fused in so they’ll stay in for 4 months or so at a time – no taking them out. I’m a little nervous that I’m going to want to be yanking them out, especially before bed, but my fingers are crossed that the thickness they add will be worth the pain! 🙂
Bryn says
You HAVE to post about the extensions. Please? My hair is so super thin after thyroid issues and I’ve been on the fence about trying them…
Karly says
Yes!! I’m sure I’ll post about them on my Insta stories tomorrow if you want to check it out. Otherwise, I’ll try to remember to mention it here too! 🙂 http://www.instagram.com/bunsinmyoven 🙂
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says
Eeek, good luck with the extensions! Hopefully they’ll be easy and fabulous and you’ll be thrilled with your gorgeous thick hair 🙂 As for dinner, sign me up for this! I love chicken Florentine flavors and this sounds so yummy mixed in with the pasta and ready so fast! And definitely give me ALL the onions!
Jen | So Damn Delish says
Although I’ve never tried hair extensions my sister has with great luck! But, let’s talk this one skillet chicken florentine skillet. 😉 I’m all about anything in under 30 minutes that only takes one dish to make. ?? This is totally going on my table and into my belly very soon!
Kylie says
25 minutes? Yep! Trying this for sure! Love this. I just got a new pasta machine (that makes it’s own pasta without me working) and this looks like the perfect recipe to put it to the test. And husbands who don’t eat onions? Must be a different species!
Karly says
What?? I need a link to that machine!