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This chicken feta spinach pasta recipe is light yet filling and full of incredible fresh flavors. It’s a great easy weeknight meal option all summer long!
Can’t get enough feta? Try this Whipped Feta with Fresh Herbs or my Simple Watermelon Feta Salad with Cucumber, Basil, and Mint.
Why you’ll love it
You may know me for making pasta with creamy sauces, but I wanted to change it up and try a lighter pasta with a fresh tomato and feta sauce. This is not the TikTok feta pasta, but our kitchen actually thinks it’s so much better! We actually kinda sorta invented it first. 😉
Simple ingredients really deliver in this recipe. I had some feta I needed to use up, so I challenged myself to be creative with what I already had in my fridge. Sometimes the best recipes are born that way! It’s made on the stovetop in 25 minutes for a quick light meal.
What you’ll need
- Pasta – you can use any shape. I am having a moment with fettuccine and linguine these days, though.
- Chicken – we’re using chicken breasts
- Olive oil, dried oregano, garlic powder – we’re pan frying the chicken in this tasty base for the sauce
- Chicken broth – another layer of flavor
- Dijon mustard – my trick to make sauces amazing. You don’t taste the mustard itself; it just adds savory goodness.
- Lemon juice – for a bit of acidity and brightness
- Tomatoes – grape or cherry or any little tomato works fine. Just make sure to find the freshest you can!
- Spinach – we’re using fresh baby spinach to complement the tomatoes
- Feta – the kind that’s packed in oil and herbs is our preference
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- Slice the chicken with a good-quality chef’s knife, and use disposable nitrile gloves for handling it with ease.
- Uncooked pasta keeps for longer in your pantry in one of these clear airtight containers.
- A sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan is the best. To make it easy, use this Microplane zester.
How to make chicken spinach feta pasta
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cook the pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, pan fry the chicken along with the olive oil, dried oregano, and garlic powder until nearly cooked. Take the chicken out and set aside.
Add in the chicken broth, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice to the pan and simmer for a minute. Stir in the tomatoes until they’re nice and soft and release the sweet juices.
Place the chicken back into the skillet, and heat through. Stir in the spinach and feta, and let the spinach wilt. Toss with the pasta, season with salt & pepper, and serve right away!
Substitutions and variations
- If you want this dish to have a bit of heat, add in some crushed red pepper flakes.
- This pasta sauce is really forgiving, so if you have some fresh herbs from the garden, feel free to throw them in. Basil and/or parsley would be fantastic.
What to serve with chicken feta pasta
- It makes a great complete meal by itself or with a slice of crusty bread and a nice drink on the patio. I won’t say no to my Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread, though!
- If you do want to pair it with a salad, try mixed greens with this Creamy Balsamic dressing, bright Green Goddess Dressing, or this Arugula Salad with Fennel and Cheese. This Easy Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad is terrific as well.
Leftovers and storage
- This pasta will last for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- To reheat, add to a saucepan over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You could also microwave it in 30-second increments.
- It probably won’t freeze well since all the fresh ingredients won’t come out as nice when thawed.
Did you make this feta chicken pasta? Questions? Let me know in the comments below! I also love seeing your S&L creations on Instagram.
Chicken Feta Spinach Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 (10 ounce) container little tomatoes (grape, cherry, etc.) cut into halves
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional, to taste
- 1.5 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- 3.5 ounces feta see note
- Salt & pepper optional, to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese optional, to taste
Instructions
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
- Prep your chicken. Add it to a skillet, along with the olive oil, dried oregano, and garlic powder. Cook over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring often. Chicken should be close to cooked. Take the chicken out of pan and set aside.
- Add the chicken broth, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice to the pan. Stir until the mustard has dissolved. Let it simmer for about a minute.
- Add the tomatoes and red pepper flakes and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. They should be falling apart and making a nice tomato sauce.
- Add the chicken back into the pan. Let it heat through (and make sure it’s fully cooked without overcooking it).
- Stir in the spinach and feta. Let the spinach wilt, and then toss the sauce with the pasta (add a little pasta water prior to draining it if you wish) and season with salt & pepper if needed. Serve with freshly grated parm if desired.
Notes
- I buy pre-diced feta. When I can find it, I use a kind that’s packed in oil and herbs for extra flavor. You can always add more dried oregano and garlic powder if you just use plain feta.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I haven’t prepared this as of yet, but, do you know the calorie and fat content by chance?
Hi Scott! Unfortunately, I do not. I am not a trained nutritionist, so I don’t feel comfortable providing nutrition info as it may not be accurate. Calories will vary depending on the ingredients you use. Plugging the exact weights/measurements of the actual ingredients you use into one of the free calculators out there should give you a good idea of the calories.
Really enjoyed this dish. I added the red pepper flakes for a bit of heat. I will make it again.
I am so pleased you liked it, Vicki!!
would prawns instead of chicken work too?
Hi Charity! I don’t see why not. I think they would go very well… just be careful not to overcook them. Let me know how it goes 🙂
made this last night and super tasty with prawns. Highly recommend if you don’t have chicken on hand. Thanks for the recipe.
That’s great! Thanks for letting me know! So happy you enjoyed it. 🙂
It was delicious! Simple ingredients but really tasty. This recipe is saved in my favorites.
I made it with a can of tomatoes instead and it was as perfect.😋
I’m so happy you liked it, Christelle! 🙂
This pasta looks amazing!!! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much!
Nothing beats summer comfort meals like this!
Thanks, Matt!
Such a delicious pasta dish!
Thank you!!
I would definitely try this Natasha! I love all the fresh summer tomatoes and that fabulous feta!
Awesome, thanks Mary Ann!
Yum. Yum. YUM. This chicken feta pasta is my love language.
Yay! Thanks, Jennifer!
This pasta is a combination of so many of my favorites! Can’t wait to try!
Let me know if you make it! 🙂
This recipe is a bit unclear regarding the chicken…2 whole chicken breasts? Two halves? Makes a dif and why would anyone use garlic powder instead of fresh minced garlic?
Hi Sheri! Technically they’re half chicken breasts, and that’s how these types of recipes are normally written where I live (I live in Canada and in Canada/USA we would call a half chicken breast a “chicken breast” because they’re typically split when they’re packaged as boneless/skinless. You won’t often find a whole chicken breast connected by a breastbone in a normal grocery store here). I don’t worry too much about their weight. This isn’t a baking recipe so doesn’t have to be too precise. I hope that makes sense. You can use fresh garlic if you want. Hope you enjoy the recipe!