Chicken 'n' Spinach Pasta Bake

Name: Chicken 'n' Spinach Pasta Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 8 ounces gemelli pasta or 8 ounces fusilli; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup finely chopped onion; 1/2 cup thinly sliced button mushroom cap; 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed (optional); 3 cups cubed cooked chicken breasts (we used a rotisserie chicken from the store); 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes (we used Muir Glen); 8 ounces chive & onion cream cheese; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional); 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

(1)

Recipe by Manami

Cottage Living Magazine, 02/2007 issue. We liked this casserole because it had all of the daily requirements(???)and it tasted oh so good! It felt very nice going down.

READY IN: 1hr 15mins

SERVES: 6

UNITS: US

INGREDIENTS

Nutrition

8

8 ounces gemelli pasta or 8 ounces fusilli
1

tablespoon olive oil
1

cup finely chopped onion
¹⁄₂

cup thinly sliced button mushroom cap
10

ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed (optional)
3

cups cubed cooked chicken breasts (we used a rotisserie chicken from the store)
1

(14 1/2 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes (we used Muir Glen)
8

ounces chive & onion cream cheese
¹⁄₂

teaspoon salt
¹⁄₂

teaspoon pepper
1

pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
1 ¹⁄₂

cups shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Prepare rigatoni according to package directions, when ready drain and save about 1/4 cup of cooking water (in case you need it to thin out the sauce).
Meanwhile, spread oil on bottom of an 11"x7" baking dish; add onion & mushrooms, if using, in a single layer.
Bake for 15 minutes or just until tender.
Transfer onion & mushrooms to a large bowl, and set aside.
Drain chopped spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels.
Stir rigatoni or other pasta, spinach, chicken, and next 5 ingredients(starting with tomatoes through the peppers - if using the red pepper flakes) into onion & mushrooms in bowl.
Spoon mixture into baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake, covered, for 30 minutes; uncover and bake 15 more minutes or until bubbly.
Serve with a nice salad and warm bread or bread sticks!
Enjoy!

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