Description
This Simple Chicken Feta Pasta is a flavorful and quick weeknight dinner that combines tender sautéed chicken, tangy feta cheese, fresh spinach, and juicy cherry tomatoes tossed with pasta and a splash of lemon juice for brightness. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s a satisfying Mediterranean-inspired meal perfect for busy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein
- 8 ounces Penne or Fusilli pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy and Oils
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Seasonings and Extras
- 1/2 lemon, freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
- Sauté Chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced chicken breast, season with salt and black pepper, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until the chicken turns golden brown and is cooked through.
- Add Garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional minute until fragrant, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Cook Tomatoes: Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes until they soften and release some juices.
- Wilt Spinach: Stir in fresh spinach and cook for another 2-3 minutes until it wilts down.
- Combine Pasta and Liquid: Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta well. Add the pasta to the skillet with the chicken and vegetables.
- Add Feta and Toss: Add the crumbled feta cheese to the skillet and toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to create a creamy sauce.
- Finish with Lemon and Seasoning: Squeeze freshly squeezed lemon juice over the pasta, adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste, and serve warm.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water carefully as it helps create a creamy sauce without extra cream.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor brightness at the end.
- Feta cheese adds saltiness, so adjust additional salt accordingly.
- Chicken can be substituted with tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Spinach can be replaced with kale for a heartier green.
