Description
A delicious and creamy chicken pesto pasta bake that is easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced chicken seasoned with salt and pepper; cook until browned (6-8 minutes). Remove from skillet.
- Sauté spinach in the same skillet for 2-3 minutes until wilted.
- In a bowl, mix basil pesto and heavy cream. Combine with cooked chicken, sautéed spinach, cooked pasta, and half the mozzarella.
- Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Notes
- For added flavor, you can marinate the chicken in pesto before cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 120mg