Chicken and Chorizo Pasta with Spinach

Is there anything more comforting than a good big bowl of pasta? I struggle to find anything else more satisfying than a steaming hot bowl of pasta filled with my favourite things. I've been making this chicken and chorizo pasta for years and I don't know why I haven't shared it with you before now. It wasn't until someone asked me for the recipe and if it was on the blog that it dawned on me to share it with you. So apologies friends, I feel like I've deprived you slightly. So, this is one of those meals that I cook all year round and it's a real family favourite in our house. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

How To Make Chicken and Chorizo Pasta with Spinach

Good quality chorizo is really important for this pasta dish so do try and get the best you can lay your hands on. I tend to steer clear of very spicy chorizo when I make this as my daughter and husband aren't very keen on very spicy food so a good regular chorizo will do the job for this. I usually opt for chicken breast fillets for this recipe, thinly sliced, chicken thighs would work well too though. Kalamata olives added close to the end of cooking add an extra layer of flavour to this chicken and chorizo pasta. And because I never miss an opportunity to sneak in some greens I add spinach at the end of cooking too.

The Pasta

I like a chunky pasta for this recipe as it can hold up to the sauce. The pasta needs to be strong enough for this sauce especially with all that chicken and chorizo. Rigatoni is my pasta of choice usually for this but penne or fusilli works well too. And if you're feeling all healthy then a good wholewheat pasta will also work well here.

The Sauce

This sauce is my favourite! It's rich and flavourful with a little hint of smoky spice. I use smoked paprika to complement the chorizo and that gives this sauce a lovely smoky flavour. The oil that you get when you cook the chorizo is like liquid gold and gives this sauce a deeper layer of flavour so don't ditch it. I start this sauce off with onion, garlic, dried oregano, smoked paprika and a little pinch of chilli flakes. Then I add the chicken, cook that up a bit then add the chorizo.

Once they are cooked I add the tomatoes, I usually add some water to the empty can give that a little swirl around and pour into the pan too. It all cooks up very nicely, then when the pasta is almost done I add the spinach and basil. The spinach may seem like a lot but don't worry it will wilt into the sauce. Finally, add the pasta and carefully toss it into the sauce so all the pasta is covered by the sauce.

Serve it up

Big bowls are a must for this chicken and chorizo pasta, as is a generous shaving or grating of parmesan cheese. Some freshly cracked black pepper will finish this off. Now if you are feeling extra hungry or greedy I can also recommend adding some good crusty white bread to soak up any leftover sauce. This may have happened in my house on more than one occasion.

Bring it to work

This chicken and chorizo pasta is perfect for making ahead or as part of a meal prep, it keeps well overnight in the fridge and is great for bringing to work as a packed lunch. You can eat it cold or heat it up in the office microwave.

More tasty pasta recipes for cosy weeknight dinners:

• Baked Turkey Meatballs with Feta and Thyme
• Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake
• Vegetarian Lasagne
• Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Tagliatelle
• Lemon Garlic Pasta with Kale

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more delicious food.