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Ultra creamy with layers of bewitching flavor, this Sun Dried Tomato Pasta recipe is special enough for a romantic dinner, but so easy anyone (even my husband) can make it with absolute success.

the best sun dried tomato pasta recipe with spinach and chicken

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Pasta Recipe

  • A Tried-and-True Winner. This is one of the most popular recipes on Well Plated, and why wouldn’t it be?! It’s creamy, it’s easy, and it’s loaded with chewy, sweet sun-dried tomatoes. (Why are sun-dried tomatoes so good? Because they take the flavor of tomatoes and concentrate it, giving you more bang for your buck!)
  • Let Me Repeat: It Is Easy. Like other simple weeknight pasta recipes (Chicken Pesto Pasta, Penne Alla Vodka, and Ricotta Pasta) it tastes stunning with minimal effort (if my husband can make it, anyone can make it!).
  • Perfect for a Date Night In. Do you ever go to an Italian restaurant for a dinner date and then wonder why you’re paying $25 for a plate of spaghetti? Save your money and whip up this sun dried tomato pasta with chicken for dinner instead.
a pot of creamy sun dried tomato pasta

5 Star Review

“Absolutely delicious, my family said it was like restaurant food!”

— Kirstie —

How to Make Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

The Ingredients

  • Whole Wheat Pasta. Go for bowties. They’re a gentleman’s pasta. Penne pasta or another bite-sized shape will work too.
  • Unsalted Butter. Far superior to extra-virgin olive oil in this recipe.
  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. Or leave them out for a vegetarian version
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Do you see that little red jar of sun-dried tomatoes? It’s your new best friend (it’s also used in this Italian Sausage Pasta). Open the jar, add it to the pan, and your chicken pasta will taste like you were just chillin’ with Giada.
  • Herbs and Spices. The always essential garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper—both black and cayenne. Red pepper flakes are a simple swap for the cayenne if you prefer.
  • Dry White Wine. A few splashes for the pasta. Some for you and your date. More for you and your date. (Also a star in this Mushroom Pasta.)
  • Whipping Cream. A little goes a long way, and it’s worth it!

Without Heavy Cream

If you want a cozy pasta dish without having to use heavy cream, try this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta, which uses milk and flour instead for the same effect.

  • Parmesan Cheese. Go the extra mile and grate your own.
  • Spinach. It’s packed with things like iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin, K, and folate. (Lov the healthy addition? Consider this Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese for your next dinner.)

The Directions

  1. Cook the Pasta. Drain it and set aside.
chicken for simple sun dried tomato pasta
  1. Cook the Chicken. Using butter gives rich flavor right from the start.
chicken and sun dried tomatoes for sun dried tomato pasta recipe
  1. Stir in the Flavor-Makers. Sun-dried tomatoes and wine.
  2. Finish. After the wine has reduced, remove the pan from the heat and toss in the pasta along with the cream, spinach, and Parmesan.
creamy recipe for sun dried tomato pasta in a pan
  1. Serve. Stir everything together until the spinach is wilted. ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

  • Add Fresh Herbs. Stir in fresh basil, thyme, or rosemary at the end of the cooking time.
  • Make It Vegetarian. Skip the chicken and add a can of chickpeas or white beans, or your favorite plant-based chicken.
  • Try Different Greens. Swiss or rainbow chard or arugula would also work here.
  • Add Some Umami. Fancy Italian olives—or even just pitted kalamata olives—add some briny, umami flavor to this creamy sun-dried tomato pasta recipe.

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Refrigerate leftover sun dried tomato pasta in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • To Reheat. Warm gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, topped with a little drizzle of chicken stock or heavy cream to keep it from drying out.
  • To Freeze. Freeze the pasta in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Leftover Ideas

Sometimes you have a little bit of leftover pasta, but not necessarily enough for a full meal. In these cases, I like to bulk it up by adding a hefty serving of veggies on the side. Grilled broccolini, Sauteed Zucchini, or Roasted Asparagus are all great options.

creamy and cheesy sun dried tomato pasta

What to Serve with Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

a plate of healthy sun dried tomato pasta
  • Cheese Grater. Just like the ones they use at your favorite Italian restaurant.
  • Colander. I love this one because it fits onto the sink.
  • Skillet. Skip the trendy brands and candy colors and buy a skillet that will last a lifetime.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Use a Big Skillet. You want to have room to stir without the pasta spilling out over the sides of the pan. No one wants to clean up that mess!
  • Have a Mise en Place. In other words, make sure you have all of the ingredients ready to go before you start cooking. This is a quick recipe, which means you won’t have time to pause and prep ingredients.
  • Grate Your Own Cheese. This is so important! Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoothly into the cream sauce, while the store-bought grated Parm (“shaky cheese,” as the kids call it) never fully melts, giving your sauce a weird texture.
a plate of easy and creamy sun dried tomato pasta

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

4.85 from 44 votes
This easy weeknight recipe for sun dried tomato pasta with chicken, spinach, and Parmesan is filling, creamy, and ready in just 20 minutes!

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces  whole wheat pasta any shape you like (recommended: bowtie or linguini)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 jar julienne-cut sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil (7 ounces) drained
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon  dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional for cooking the pasta
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine (such as Pinot Grigio) or low sodium chicken stock
  • 2/3 cup whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving
  • 2 cups baby spinach

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Sprinkle in a few teaspoons of salt, then add the pasta and cook according to package directions, just until al dente (lightly firm and chewy, but not hard). Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken and cook until lightly golden brown on all sides, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low, then add the drained sun dried tomatoes, garlic, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the wine and for cook 2 minutes, until the liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
  • To the skillet, add the whipping cream, then the pasta, spinach, and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Stir for 30 seconds to allow the spinach to cook down. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese and serve.

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover sun dried tomato pasta in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Warm gently in the microwave, topped with a little drizzle of chicken stock or heavy cream to keep it from drying out.
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze the pasta in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 627kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 50gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 182mgPotassium: 795mgFiber: 6gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2303IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 205mgIron: 1mg

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Make Creamy Pasta Without Heavy Cream?

While I have only ever tested this recipe as it is written, you can try swapping the cream for a can of full-fat coconut milk with success. If you choose to experiment with this non-dairy substitution (or others) I’d love to hear your results.

Can I Use Sun Dried Tomatoes in a Pouch Instead of a Jar?

If you only have access to sun dried tomatoes sealed in a pouch, as opposed to packed in a jar with oil, I would suggest rehydrating them in warm water for 10 minutes before adding them to the dish. This ensures the tomatoes will be perfectly tender as opposed to tough or leathery.

How Do You Make Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Gluten Free?

If you’d like to make this pasta recipe gluten free, swap the whole wheat pasta for your favorite gluten free pasta variety. As always, be sure to check the labels of your other ingredients to confirm they were processed in a gluten free certified facility and do not contain any gluten-containing additives.

Related Recipes

Pasta night is the best night of the week! Here are some more of my favorite pasta dinners.

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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62 Comments

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  1. I made this for dinner. My husband loved it. A no muss no fuss recipe to prepare after work5 stars

  2. This recipe is wonderful!! The flavors are amazing. It has become my family’s absolute favorite dinner.

    I wanted to know what other recipes had flavors like this one? My son lost his taste during Covid and can only taste a few things. He loves this. I keep trying to find foods he can enjoy. Any help would be appreciated!! 😊5 stars

    1. Hi Kris! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review! I have a few more recipes that include sun dried tomatoes which might be helpful! https://www.wellplated.com/?s=sun+dried

  3. I have just recently come across your website…and have managed to spend HOURS browsing! I LOVE this post by your husband. Definitely gave a chuckle to my day! :) Not to mention a great recipe.

  4. Truly Scrumptious! This dish was quick and easy to pull together and also very rich and satisfying. After my husband and I enjoyed it, there was easily enough left for another meal for both of us. I love all of Erin’s recipes!5 stars

  5. I made this tonight…it tasted good but it was very salty. The salt seemed to come from the sun dried tomatoes. Could that have been the overall culprit? Should I have rinsed the tomatoes as opposed to just draining them? Thanks!

    1. Hi Christine! There could be a few culprits to it being salty for you. First did you use kosher salt? Any other salt would add a more pronounced saltiness to the dish. Draining the tomatoes should be fine because you just need to remove the oil. Might need to find a different brand of sun dried tomatoes if the ones you used were too salty for you. Hope this helps!

  6. This was absolutely delicious! My spinach went bad so I just sautéed some broccoli instead and WOW. I’ve got fresh spinach coming to try it again next week!5 stars

  7. Made this today and it was absolutely beautiful! Thank you – can’t wait to try some of your other recipes.5 stars

  8. Delicious pasta that’s a little more special / indulgent. Unfortunately my family doesn’t like whole wheat pasta so we swapped for regular and lost some of those benefits, but very delicious! I feel like 20 min would be a miracle but it’s certainly a more simple dish.5 stars

  9. Another great recipe from Erin. I’m definitely going to continue making her recipes. We are loving the handful of ones I’ve done so far. I’m buying her recipe book. She does not disappoint.5 stars

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