Butternut Squash Penne With Chicken, Bacon and Spinach

The most delicious fall/wintertime recipe, hands down. I don't have the patience to roast squash and this is a great way to get picky kids to eat healthy vegetables.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 3  cups  peeled and cubed  butternut squash
• 4 -5  slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1  lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3  cups  Baby Spinach, rough chopped
• 1  medium onion, sliced
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  lb penne pasta
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup flour
• 2  cups milk
• 1⁄3 cup  Italian cheese blend (parmesan, reggiano, asiago, provolone, etc)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray 13x9 pan liberally with non-stick spray. Start a pot of 5 qt water with liberal salt for the penne.
2. Cook bacon until crisp over medium heat in a large non-stick skillet. Drain bacon over paper towels and reserve 3 TBSP fat in pan.
3. Salt and pepper chicken pieces. Cook chicken breast pieces in the bacon fat for about 4 minutes, until no longer pink in the center. Reserve chicken and tent with foil.
4. Add enough olive oil to coat pan; add squash, salt, pepper and sage. Cover pan and stir occasionally for 5-7 minutes, until squash is semi-soft. Add onion and continue to cook for 3-5 minutes, until onion is translucent. Add garlic, red pepper, and spinach to skillet and cook until spinach is wilted, 3-4 minutes.
5. Do not cook your penne until al dente; it will continue to cook in the oven. Only cook for about 7 minutes.
6. In a seperate saucepan cook flour over medium heat, gradually adding milk and whisking continuously until boiling. Boil for two minutes or until thickened; remove from heat and add cheese, stirring until melted.
7. Add flour/milk/cheese mixture to pasta; add pasta to squash mixture. Stir in the cooked chicken and crumbled bacon. Add more milk if mixture is too thick. Spread mixture into 13x9 pan; sprinkle more cheese on top if desired. Cook in oven 15-20 minutes or until cheese is browned and bubbling. Let cool for 10-15 minutes; serve.