Creamy Chicken and Spinach (Ready in 30 Minutes!)

Name: Creamy Chicken and Spinach
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts ((cut in half lengthwise to form 4-6 pieces)); 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; Salt and black pepper, to taste; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 teaspoons minced garlic ((or 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped)); 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth; 1 cup heavy whipping cream ((or half-and-half)); ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; Salt and black pepper, to taste; ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese ((freshly grated works best, as the jarred kind tends to clump together)); 5 ounces fresh baby spinach ((roughly 4 cups))

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by Gayle on November 10, 2025 0 comments »

This Creamy Chicken and Spinach is a quick and comforting one-pan dinner made with tender chicken, a rich garlic parmesan cream sauce, and fresh spinach. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect weeknight meal that’s both hearty and flavorful. Serve it with pasta, rice, or some crusty bread!

A skillet filled with golden-seared chicken breasts in a creamy sauce, garnished with wilted spinach. A hand holds a spoon, drizzling sauce over one of the chicken pieces.

If you’ve ever stared into your fridge at 5:30pm wondering what to make for dinner…you’re not alone.

Between busy work days, after-school activities, and trying to come up with meals that are tasty, dinnertime can feel like a daily challenge.

That’s where this creamy spinach and chicken recipe comes into play. It checks all of the boxes for what we actually need on weeknights: fast, made with pantry staples, and doesn’t skimp on flavor.

The chicken is seasoned just right and pan-seared until golden. The parmesan cream sauce is smooth, silky, and loaded with flavor. And the addition of fresh baby spinach, you’ve got yourself a dinner that’s balanced and veggie-loaded.

What makes this easy creamy chicken and spinach extra magical? It’s easy to customize and flexible, depending on your tastes. Spoon the sauce over some pasta or rice, or serve alongside some bread and a fresh salad.

And if you’re on the hunt for more chicken recipes, you’ll love this chicken fajita pasta and baked chicken nuggets! Looking for more fast meals? Check out my 30 minute dinner recipes for more ideas!

A plate of fettuccine pasta topped with a creamy chicken breast, spinach, and a rich sauce, garnished with herbs. A small dish of seasoning sits in the background.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

One pan: Made in just one skillet and ready in 30 minutes.
Creamy and comforting: The garlic parmesan cream sauce is so good that you’ll want to eat it with a spoon.
Family-friendly: Even your picky kiddos (or spouse) will enjoy this creamy spinach chicken.
Made with pantry staples: You probably have most of the ingredients you need to make this chicken dinner, which is a win-win all around.
Versatile: You can serve this this healthy chicken and spinach bake with rice, pasta, potatoes, a salad…the possibilities are endless.

Top-down view of raw chicken breasts on a plate, fresh spinach in a bowl, grated cheese, cream, olive oil, chicken broth, spices, and garlic cloves arranged on a light surface.

Ingredients Needed:

For the chicken:

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: These are sliced in half length-wise to form cutlets that will cook quicker and more evenly.
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
Olive oil: To sear and cook the chicken.

For the cream sauce and spinach:

Garlic: Minced garlic or finely chopped cloves work well.
Chicken broth: This adds a savory flavor to the sauce.
Heavy whipping cream: Makes the sauce rich, velvety and smooth.
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning.
Parmesan cheese: This melts into the cream sauce and thicken it with delicious flavor.
Spinach: This wilts quickly into the sauce and adds a pop of color and a nutrition boost.

How to Make:

Heat: Add olive oil to a heated large skillet. Season chicken with seasonings and sear and cook on both sides over medium-high heat until cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside to keep warm.
Add: Scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits and then cook garlic for 30 seconds.

Five seasoned and cooked chicken breast pieces are arranged in a light-colored frying pan with a wooden handle, set on a textured, light beige surface.

A beige skillet with a wooden handle contains browned bits of cooked garlic and oil residue on the bottom, sitting on a light-colored textured surface.

Pour: Add in chicken broth, cream, and seasonings. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until slightly thickened.
Stir: Remove the pan from heat and stir in cheese until it’s melted. Then, stir in spinach until wilted.
Chicken: Add the chicken back to skillet and spoon the sauce over each piece.

A beige frying pan with a wooden handle contains a creamy, light yellow sauce with visible black pepper specks, set on a light, textured surface.

A light-colored skillet with creamy spinach sauce, featuring wilted spinach leaves in a pale yellow, seasoned cream, on a neutral countertop background.

A skillet with four pieces of seasoned chicken breast in a creamy sauce, garnished with spinach leaves, sits on a light-colored surface.

How to Store:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat: Warm in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through. If needed, add a splash of cream or broth to loosen up the sauce if it’s too thick.
To freeze: While this dish is best enjoyed within several days because of the cream sauce, you can freeze this. Place the creamy chicken breasts in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving. The cream sauce may separate once frozen, so you will need to stir well when reheating.

A plate of fettuccine pasta with spinach, topped with sliced grilled chicken. A golden fork holds a piece of chicken, and a small bowl of herbs is in the background.

Serving Suggestions:

Over pasta: This chicken dish pairs well with fettuccine, penne or spaghetti.
With rice: White rice, brown rice, quinoa, or even couscous pair well.
Alongside veggies: This roasted broccoli, carrots, or asparagus would make a delicious side dish.
With bread: Make some cheesy garlic bread or serve some crusty bread to dip into the sauce.

Variations:

Swap the protein: Use chicken thighs, chicken tenders, or even pork chops in place of the chicken breasts.
Make it low-carb: Skip the pasta or rice and serve with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice.
Add extra veggies: Toss in some mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, or zucchini for added flavor and texture.
Use different cheese: Try asiago, Romano, or cream cheese for a fun twist.

Creamy pan-seared chicken breasts in a skillet with spinach in a rich, golden sauce. A wedge of cheese, a grater, and garlic bulbs are visible nearby on a light surface.

Tips and Tricks:

Pound your chicken: If the chicken breasts are uneven when slicing, give them a quick pound to help cook faster and more evenly.
Don’t skip the browned bits: Scraping up the browned bits stuck onto the bottom of the pan after the chicken finishes cooking gives the sauce a lot of flavor.
Use freshly grated parmesan cheese: If you have the time, grate your own cheese…it melts (and tastes) better than the jarred kind, as it most likely won’t clump together.
Adjust the sauce thickness: if you like a thicker sauce, let it simmer longer. And if you want a thinner sauce, add a bit more broth or cream to thin it out.
Taste and tweak: Taste the sauce and add more seasonings, if needed.

A plate of fettuccine pasta topped with sliced seasoned chicken breast and wilted spinach, served with a gold fork. A small dish of herbs and another plate of pasta are in the background.

More Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes to Try:

30 Minute Meals Chicken Main Course

published on Nov 10, 2025

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