Description
Creamy, cheesy, and packed with tender chicken and fresh spinach, this Chicken, Spinach, and Cheese Pasta Bake is a comforting dinner perfect for cozy family nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz penne pasta (or any pasta shape), cooked al dente
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together cooked pasta, cooked chicken, chopped spinach, mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together marinara sauce, heavy cream, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Let it cool for a few minutes, then garnish with chopped fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, add more heavy cream or a scoop of ricotta cheese to the sauce mixture.
- Feel free to swap out cheeses (like provolone or gouda) for different flavors.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6 of the dish
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: chicken pasta bake, spinach pasta, cheesy casserole, family dinner, comfort food