Description
Creamy Weeknight Dinner in One Pan is a lifesaver! Chicken, veggies, and a luscious sauce all bake together for stress-free, delicious meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 12 oz uncooked penne pasta
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- Flavor Boosters & Aromatics:
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
- Seasonings & Spices:
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- Finishing Touches:
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep Your Pan and Proteins:: First things first, grab your trusty 9×13 inch baking dish; no need to grease it, honestly. Then, get those chicken thighs ready. Give them a good pat dry with paper towels—this helps them brown a bit, which means more flavor! Cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch chunks. I find this size cooks evenly and is perfect for a forkful of this Creamy Weeknight Dinner in One Pan. Don’t forget to season them generously with a pinch of salt and pepper. This step might seem small, but seasoning at every stage makes a huge difference, trust me!
- Combine the Base Ingredients:: Now, let’s get everything else into that pan! Scatter the uncooked penne pasta evenly across the bottom of your baking dish. Next, sprinkle in your finely chopped yellow onion and minced garlic. I always take a deep breath here; that combination of raw onion and garlic just smells like potential! Now, nestle those seasoned chicken pieces among the pasta and aromatics. Try to spread them out a bit so they get some good contact with the creamy liquid we’re about to add. This is where the one-pan magic really starts to happen!
- Whisk Up the Creamy Goodness:: In a separate bowl, whisk together your chicken broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and another good pinch of salt and pepper. Make sure it’s all mixed well; you want those spices evenly distributed for a balanced flavor throughout your Creamy Weeknight Dinner in One Pan. I once just dumped everything in and the seasoning clumped up, not ideal! Pour this creamy liquid evenly over the chicken and pasta mixture in the baking dish. Give the pan a gentle shake to ensure the pasta is mostly submerged. We’re building layers of flavor here, friends!
- Bake and Stir for Creamy Perfection:: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. This creates a steamy environment that cooks the pasta and chicken perfectly. Pop it into your preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes. When the timer dings, carefully remove the foil (watch out for that steam!). Give everything a really good stir. This is crucial! It helps distribute the sauce, prevents the pasta from sticking, and ensures everything cooks evenly. I often forget this step and end up with some clumpy pasta—oops! You’ll start to see that beautiful creamy sauce forming.
- Add the Greens and Cheese:: After that first stir, it’s time for the spinach and Parmesan. Stir in the fresh spinach; it might look like a mountain, but it will wilt down dramatically. Then, sprinkle in about half of your grated Parmesan cheese. Give it another gentle stir to combine. Now, pop the dish back into the oven, uncovered this time, for another 10-15 minutes. This allows the sauce to thicken further and the cheese to melt into all the nooks and crannies. The smells coming from your oven right now? Pure bliss, honestly!
- Finish and Serve Your Creamy Weeknight Dinner:: Once the pasta is tender, the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature should be 165°F/74°C), and the sauce is wonderfully thick and creamy, remove the pan from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes; this helps the sauce set up even more and prevents it from being too runny. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and a generous handful of fresh chopped parsley for a burst of freshness. Serve this delightful Creamy Weeknight Dinner in One Pan straight from the dish. It’s comforting, satisfying, and looks like you spent hours, but we both know the truth!