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Cheesy Spinach Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 120 reviews

This Cheesy Spinach Chicken Pasta Bake is a comforting and hearty dish combining tender penne pasta, creamy cheese sauce, nutritious spinach, and shredded chicken. Perfect for a family dinner, it blends creamy sour cream, cream cheese, and mozzarella with a flavorful dry ranch seasoning, baked to bubbly perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 16 ounces penne rigate, cooked al dente

Dairy & Sauce

  • 1 cup (230 g) sour cream
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup (122.5 g) milk
  • 3 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix
  • 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded

Other

  • 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed of liquid
  • 3 cups (420 g) cooked and shredded chicken breast

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare the dish for baking.
  2. Cook Pasta: Boil penne rigate pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  3. Prepare Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, milk, and dry ranch seasoning mix. Stir until smooth and well blended to form a creamy sauce base.
  4. Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked pasta, thawed and drained spinach, shredded mozzarella cheese, and shredded chicken breast to the sauce mixture. Mix gently to evenly coat all ingredients with the sauce.
  5. Assemble in Baking Dish: Transfer the combined pasta mixture into a greased baking dish, spreading it evenly.
  6. Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
  7. Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the bake to set and cool slightly.

Notes

  • Make sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the thawed spinach to prevent a watery bake.
  • Use cooked chicken breast from leftovers or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
  • You can substitute penne rigate with other pasta shapes like rigatoni or penne.
  • For a spicier variation, add crushed red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños to the sauce.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.

Keywords: cheesy spinach chicken pasta bake, spinach pasta bake, chicken pasta casserole, creamy pasta bake, baked pasta dish

Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/cheesy-spinach-chicken-pasta-bake-recipe/