This creamy Chicken Florentine Pasta recipe is an easy and tasty weeknight recipe that the whole family will love. On the table in half an hour, this Italian-inspired dish comes together easily and is packed full of flavor. Make this easy pasta recipe for a fun and festive pasta party this Fall!

Penne pasta with chicken and spinach in a pan.

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Why We Love This Chicken Florentine Pasta Recipe

This chicken florentine pasta recipe is so deliciously creamy and cheesy and so flavorsome. This really is a restaurant-quality dish that you would find in your favorite Italian. It’s so quick and easy to put together, what more could you ask for after a busy day?

Variations on Pasta Florentine with Chicken

This delicious Florentine pasta dish is so easy to change up. Try adding some mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or goat cheese for a slightly different flavor. Or swap out the chicken for a different protein, like shrimp or sausage.

A pot of pasta with cheese and spinach in it.
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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover chicken florentine in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan set over medium-low heat until warmed through.

I do not recommend freezing this dish, as the sauce has a tendency to separate once thawed.

Serving Suggestions

This florentine pasta is such a hearty dish, so keep it simple and serve it with some Dutch oven bread or garlic knots, roasted vegetables, and a spinach berry salad.

What is chicken florentine?

This dish consists of penne pasta and cooked chicken coated in a rich and creamy cheese sauce filled with spinach!

Is chicken florentine from Florence?

Although it sounds like this dish must be from Italy, Florentine actually refers to a traditional French sauce.

What’s a Florentine?

Florentine is a term in French cuisine that refers to a dish that includes cooked spinach, a protein, and a Mornay sauce, which is a cheese-based sauce.

What do you serve chicken Florentine with?

This dish pairs well with bread, vegetables, and salad.

A bowl of pasta with spinach and chicken.

More Chicken Pasta Dishes To Try

5-Star Review

“Love this recipe! So easy to make and my family completely polished off the pot!” – Stephanie

Recipe Card

Chicken Florentine Pasta Recipe

4.66 from 72 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 8 bowls
Author: Becky Hardin
A pot of pasta with cheese and spinach in it.
Easy chicken florentine is creamy, packed with flavor, and ready in just 30 minutes!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 16 ounces dry penne pasta (1 box)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (¼ stick)
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 6 ounces baby spinach
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ cup white wine
  • cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • cup Panko breadcrumbs

Instructions 

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
    16 ounces dry penne pasta
    Penne pasta in a metal pot on a white surface.
  • Add the butter to a Dutch oven set over medium heat and allow it to melt.
    2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Add the garlic; cook and stir for 30 seconds. Add the spinach; cook and stir just until wilted, 1-2 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside.
    3 cloves garlic, 6 ounces baby spinach
    Spinach in a pan on a stove top.
  • In the same pot, add the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season each side of each chicken breast with salt, pepper, and oregano. Cook on each side for approximately 8 minutes, or until fully cooked. Set aside and allow to rest for 5 minutes; slice into thin strips.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    Two chicken breasts are being cooked in a skillet.
  • In the same Dutch oven, add the white wine to deglaze the pan. After the wine is simmering, scrape all the chicken bits to the center; they hold a ton of flavor!
    ½ cup white wine
    A pot filled with a black liquid on top of a stove.
  • Add in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Slowly stir in the mozzarella, parmesan, and cream cheese. Stir in the salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Heat through until all the cheese is melted and smooth.
    2½ cups heavy cream, 2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    A slow cooker filled with a creamy sauce.
  • Add the pasta to the sauce, tossing to fully coat. Stir in the spinach mixture and the chicken. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
    ⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs
    A crock pot filled with pasta and cheese.

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • Cook the pasta al-dente.
  • Use free run / organic chicken if possible.
  • You can substitute the white wine for grape juice or chicken stock if you prefer.
  • Serve the pasta immediately while it’s hot and fresh.
  • You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat once.
Storage: Store chicken florentine in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Calories: 737kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 32gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 163mgSodium: 1043mgPotassium: 619mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 3542IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 314mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Chicken Florentine Pasta Step by Step

Cook the Pasta: Cook 16 ounces of penne pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

Penne pasta in a metal pot on a white surface.

Cook the Garlic and Spinach: Add 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter to a Dutch oven set over medium heat and allow it to melt. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic; cook and stir for 30 seconds. Add 6 ounces of baby spinach; cook and stir just until wilted, 1-2 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside.

Spinach in a pan on a stove top.

Cook the Chicken: In the same pot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season each side of 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts with kosher salt, ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon of oregano. Cook on each side for approximately 8 minutes, or until fully cooked. Set aside and allow to rest for 5 minutes; slice into thin strips.

Two chicken breasts are being cooked in a skillet.

Deglaze the Pan: In the same Dutch oven, add ½ cup of white wine to deglaze the pan. After the wine is simmering, scrape all the chicken bits to the center; they hold a ton of flavor!

A pot filled with a black liquid on top of a stove.

Add the Dairy: Add in 2½ cups of heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Slowly stir in 2 cups of freshly shredded mozzarella, ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan, and 4 ounces (½ brick) of reduced-fat cream cheese. Stir in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Heat through until all the cheese is melted and smooth.

A slow cooker filled with a creamy sauce.

Toss and Serve: Add the pasta to the sauce, tossing to fully coat. Stir in the spinach mixture and the chicken. Sprinkle with ⅓ cup of Panko breadcrumbs. Serve immediately.

A crock pot filled with pasta and cheese.

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.66 from 72 votes (65 ratings without comment)
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20 Comments
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Stella
Stella
May 24, 2023 9:12 pm

I don’t drink?? In this recipe it say use white wine? What else can I use instead of the white wine??

Samantha Marceau
May 25, 2023 9:13 am
Reply to  Stella

Hi Stella, you can use chicken stock!

Phil
Phil
January 24, 2021 8:04 pm

Sooooo good! Fam loved it.5 stars

Last edited 3 years ago by Phil
Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
January 29, 2021 2:25 pm
Reply to  Phil

That’s awesome, Phil!

Mitzi
Mitzi
November 11, 2022 11:29 am
Reply to  Phil

The recipe says 1 package of pasta is this a pound ?

Samantha Marceau
November 11, 2022 11:38 am
Reply to  Mitzi

Yes!

Leigh Douthit
Leigh Douthit
January 18, 2021 5:33 pm

So yummy. Makes enough for a crowd!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
January 20, 2021 4:15 pm
Reply to  Leigh Douthit

Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Leigh!

Patricia
Patricia
November 3, 2019 12:52 pm

Can I use another pasta besides penne in the Chicken Florentine Pasta?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 4, 2019 1:16 pm
Reply to  Patricia

You could essentially use any pasta you like!

Sarah Skaggs
Sarah Skaggs
November 3, 2019 8:55 am

Okay this pasta was so good. Now I want to have a pasta party!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 3, 2019 12:07 pm
Reply to  Sarah Skaggs

A pasta party is always a good idea!!

Anna
Anna
November 2, 2019 5:29 pm

This pasta was a huge hit! Everyone loved the flavors!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 2, 2019 5:56 pm
Reply to  Anna

Yay! SO glad to hear everyone loved them!

Stephanie
Stephanie
November 2, 2019 4:52 pm

Love this recipe! So easy to make and my family completely polished off the pot!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 2, 2019 5:57 pm
Reply to  Stephanie

You know its good when there are no leftovers!!

Jessica Burgess
Jessica Burgess
November 2, 2019 12:40 pm

Another winner in my house! Thank you!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 2, 2019 6:01 pm

Glad I could help!!

Katie
Katie
November 2, 2019 10:17 am

Made this for a family dinner and it was hit! We all loved it!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 2, 2019 6:02 pm
Reply to  Katie

I’m happy to hear you all enjoyed!!