Description
This Creamy Stuffed Chicken with Spinach Rigatoni is a comforting, restaurant-worthy dinner that combines juicy chicken breasts stuffed with a rich cream cheese and sun-dried tomato filling, served alongside rigatoni tossed in a silky Parmesan cream sauce with spinach. A hearty yet elegant meal perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Stuffed Chicken Breasts:
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 5 sun-dried tomatoes (about 10g), finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tsp salt, divided
- 1 tsp black pepper, divided
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Creamy Spinach Rigatoni:
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 oz rigatoni, cooked al dente
Instructions
- Prepare stuffing: In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until smooth.
- Stuff chicken: Carefully slice a pocket into each chicken breast. Fill with the cream cheese mixture and secure with toothpicks if needed.
- Sear chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with remaining salt and pepper, then sear 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Make creamy rigatoni sauce: In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter. Add diced onion and sauté until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add cream & cheese: Slowly whisk in heavy cream, Parmesan, nutmeg, and salt. Simmer 5–6 minutes until thickened.
- Finish pasta: Stir in spinach until wilted, then toss with cooked rigatoni.
- Serve: Plate creamy spinach rigatoni and top with stuffed chicken. Garnish with extra parsley or Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for best flavor.
- To ensure chicken cooks through, finish it in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 10 minutes after searing.
- The cream sauce thickens as it cools—add a splash of pasta water if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop + Oven
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast with pasta
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1120mg
- Fat: 44g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 46g
- Cholesterol: 210mg