Betty's Chicken & Spinach Pasta Bake |
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Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes |
Ready In: 60 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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A combination of other recipes created for my MIL, Betty, for Christmas 2012. You may substitute ground chicken or turkey for the chopped chicken, any of which can be seasoned with your choice of italian seasonings prior to cooking. Ingredients:
12 ounces uncooked pasta (rigatoni, penne, etc) |
1 lb chicken, cooked & cubed |
1 tablespoon olive oil |
1 medium onion, finely chopped |
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach (thawed & drained) |
4 garlic cloves, chopped |
3 tablespoons butter |
3 tablespoons flour |
2 cups milk |
1 pinch nutmeg |
1 tablespoon italian seasoning |
4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, cubed |
12 ounces mozzarella cheese or 12 ounces italian cheese blend, shredded |
Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions, remembering to leave it slightly undercooked. Rinse and set aside, reserving the pot for mixing in later.
2. In a large skillet, cook onions in the olive oil until soft and translucent. Add garlic, chicken, and spinach. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring well to distribute the spinach nicely. Remove from heat.
3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and seasonings. Cook 2-3 minutes whisking constantly. Add milk slowly, whisking together to make a sauce. (It may take a few minutes to thicken.)
4. Add cubed cream cheese to sauce, stirring to melt.
5. Combine pasta, sauce, and meat mixture in the pasta pot. Stir well to mix.
6. Pour into 9x13 casserole, top with shredded cheese. ***At this point you may cover tightly with foil and refridgerate until ready to bake.
7. To bake: preheat oven to 375. Uncover casserole and bake for 30-40 minutes until heated through and cheese is bubbly.
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