Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

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Three-cheese chicken penne features chunks of chicken in a creamy tomato sauce with basil and fresh spinach baked with multigrain pasta. Serve with Crystal Light iced tea.

Submitted by Philadelphia
Updated on November 23, 2024
close up view of Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake garnished with cheese and fresh basil
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
1 2-quart casserole
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • cooking spray

  • 1 ½ cups multi-grain penne pasta, uncooked

  • 1 (9 ounce) bag fresh spinach leaves

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

  • 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained

  • 1 (14 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

  • 2 ounces PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel cheese, cubed

  • 1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

  • 2 tablespoons KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a casserole dish with cooking spray.

  2. Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil. Add penne. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes; add spinach to boiling water for the last minute. Drain and set aside.

  3. Grease a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chicken and basil in the hot skillet for 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and spaghetti sauce; bring to a boil. Simmer on low heat until chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Stir in Neufchâtel cheese until melted.

  4. Add penne-spinach mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese to the skillet; stir until well combined. Pour into the prepared casserole dish.

  5. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. Top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and Parmesan. Continue baking until mozzarella is melted, about 3 minutes.

Tips

You can use no-salt-added diced tomatoes and lower-sodium spaghetti sauce if watching sodium intake.

You can substitute an 8-inch square baking dish for the 2-quart casserole dish.

138 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

468 Calories
15g Fat
39g Carbs
43g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 468
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 1004mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 43g 86%
Vitamin C 27mg 30%
Calcium 394mg 30%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 942mg 20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.