Cheesy Chicken Penne Pasta
2-1-2-1 Meals: undefined
MAKES: serving
Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat penne pasta, uncooked
5 cups baby spinach
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp dried basil
2 cups marinara sauce
2 cloves garlic
1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes, liquid drained
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Cook pasta according to package directions (omit salt). Add spinach to boiling water for the last minute of cooking. Drain and set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and basil. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in marinara, garlic, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Bring the sauce to a simmer with low heat for 3 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Stir in ricotta cheese.
Stir pasta and spinach into the chicken mixture. Add ½ cup of mozzarella. Spoon into a 2-quart baking dish. If your skillet is oven-safe, you can choose to cook the dish in the skillet.
Bake for 20 minutes then top with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.