Santa Maria Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced into cutlets)
• 12 oz Penne or fettuccine pasta
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 2–3 tbsp Salted Perfection Santa Maria Select Blend (divided)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1/2 cup Sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained and chopped)
• 1 cup Heavy cream
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 2 cups Fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup Reserved pasta water (starchy liquid gold)

Instructions

1. Pat the chicken cutlets completely dry with a paper towel. This is crucial because surface moisture creates steam, which prevents the Maillard reaction—that beautiful browning process that creates flavor. Season the chicken generously with about 1.5 tablespoons of Salted Perfection Santa Maria Select Blend.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta to al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. This water is full of starch, which acts as a binder to help emulsify our sauce later.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer. Do not crowd the pan, or you will lower the temperature too much and steam the meat. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove chicken and set aside.
4. Reduce the heat to medium. In the same pan, add the minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1 minute, scraping up the 'fond'—the browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. That is concentrated flavor.
5. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it reduce slightly for 2-3 minutes to thicken the liquid matrix.
6. Lower the heat to low. Whisk in the Parmesan cheese until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, stream in the reserved pasta water slowly while whisking to adjust the viscosity.
7. Add the spinach and stir until it wilts from the residual heat. Return the chicken and the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss everything to coat evenly, ensuring the sauce adheres to the pasta surface.
8. Taste and sprinkle with the remaining Salted Perfection Santa Maria Select Blend if you need more punch. DUNZO!