Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake
photo by lazyme
- Ready In:
- 1hr
- Ingredients:
- 9
- Serves:
-
4
ingredients
- 1 1⁄2 cups multigrain penne pasta, uncooked
- 1 (283 g) package fresh baby spinach leaves
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
- 1 1⁄2 cups pasta sauce, jarred
- 1 2⁄3 cups diced tomatoes, drained
- 1⁄4 cup light cream cheese spread
- 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons grated lowfat parmesan cheese
directions
- HEAT oven to 375ºF. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding spinach to the boiling water during the last 1 min of cooking.
- MEANWHILE, heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chicken and basil; cook 3 minute or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently. Add pasta sauce and tomatoes; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 3 minute or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in cream cheese spread until melted.
- DRAIN pasta and spinach; return to same saucepan. Add chicken mixture; mix lightly. Stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Spoon into 2-L or 8-inch square baking dish.
- BAKE 20 minute or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Bake 3 minute or until cheese is melted.
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Reviews
-
Delicious! We enjoyed this last night for dinner, and I again enjoyed it today for lunch. I added minced garlic, rosemary, sage and thyme to the basil (just love herbs and garlic, so these additions were personal taste preferences) towards the end of step 2, and although I'll happily use light versions of cream cheese in any recipe, I prefer regular mozzarella and parmesan, so that's what I used. Loved the spinach in this and the blend of flavours was great. I'd like to also try this with roasted red pepper instead of the tomatoes. Thank you for sharing yet another yummy, versatile and easy to prepare recipe, wicked cook. :) Made for Zaar Stars Tag.
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Tweaks
-
Delicious! We enjoyed this last night for dinner, and I again enjoyed it today for lunch. I added minced garlic, rosemary, sage and thyme to the basil (just love herbs and garlic, so these additions were personal taste preferences) towards the end of step 2, and although I'll happily use light versions of cream cheese in any recipe, I prefer regular mozzarella and parmesan, so that's what I used. Loved the spinach in this and the blend of flavours was great. I'd like to also try this with roasted red pepper instead of the tomatoes. Thank you for sharing yet another yummy, versatile and easy to prepare recipe, wicked cook. :) Made for Zaar Stars Tag.