PumaPardus’s Spinach Pasta Bake Recipe:

http://www.joyouslydomestic.com/2013/04/chicken-and-spinach-pasta-bake.html

*Gymbo’s members recommend doubling the spinach

Click for full recipe:

Spinach Pasta Bake

Yields 6 – 8 servings

Ingredients:

10 ounces dry pasta (Can use a combination of rotini, farfalle and penne. Any similar size would work.)
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces chive and onion cream cheese
1 cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
1 cup whole milk, heavy cream or half-and-half
1/2 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 – 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh spinach (Gymbo’s recommends 3 cups)
2 cups cooked chicken (cubed or shredded)
1/2 cup fresh tomatoes, cut into large chunks (Can use grape/cherry tomatoes sliced in half)
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Coat a medium casserole dish with non-stick spray. (Mine was a 10″ round, but a 9 x 13 would work fine.)

Cook pasta in salted, boiling water to al dente. Drain and set aside.

While pasta is cooking, heat butter in a medium saute pan set to medium heat. Add in the onion and garlic. Cook for 3 – 4 minutes to slightly soften veggies. Do not brown.

Add in cream cheese and stir to melt. Reduce heat to low. Stir in sour cream, milk, Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir until everything is well-combined and melted. Turn off heat.

Combine the pasta, chicken, spinach and tomatoes in a large bowl.

Add in the sauce and gently stir to coat.

Pour into the prepared baking dish. (I drizzled in a little more half-and-half over the mixture once it was in the baking dish because it looked a little dry to me.)

Top with the remaining mozzarella.

Bake uncovered for about 20 -25 minutes … or until casserole is bubbly and beginning to brown. Top with basil or parsley for garnish.

NOTE: In order for the pasta bake to not dry out, place the baking dish on a sheet pan and add 1 – 2 cups of very hot water to the sheet pan once in the oven. This will create steam during the baking process and will help to keep everything moist.