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Italian Chicken Skillet

This Italian chicken skillet recipe is a delicious and easy dinner! The best part is that it cooks all in one skillet so there is hardly any mess!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 995.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet with Lid
  • 1 Wooden Spoon
  • 1 Chef's knife
  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Measuring Cups/Spoons

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped, or to taste
  • ½ cup red cooking wine
  • 1 28 ounce can Italian-style diced tomatoes
  • 8 ounces small seashell pasta
  • 5 ounces fresh spinach chopped
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet with a lid over medium heat; cook and stir the chicken and garlic until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, 5 to 8 minutes.
  • Pour wine and diced tomatoes with their juice into the skillet, and bring to a boil over high heat while scraping any browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
  • Stir in shell pasta and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until shells have cooked through, but are still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Spread spinach over the top of pasta, cover, and simmer until spinach leaves are cooked, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the skillet; simmer until the cheese has melted and the pasta is bubbling, about 5 minutes. Rock_lobster

Notes

For deeper flavor, ensure the chicken cubes are well-browned before adding liquids; this creates fond which deglazes beautifully with the red wine. Use a dry, quality red wine for deglazing, not just 'cooking wine,' for a more complex aroma. When adding pasta, keep a close eye on it to achieve a perfect al dente texture; overcooked pasta will become mushy in the sauce. Freshly chopped basil or oregano added right at the end, along with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil, will brighten the dish considerably. Consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a subtle kick. For a richer cheese flavor, finish with a blend of mozzarella and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Always taste and adjust seasoning before serving.