Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta Bake Recipe
Prep Time:
5 minutes
Cook Time:
50 minutes
Servings:
6 Portions
Ingredients
  • 10 ounces short pasta, such as penne or fusilli
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound chicken breast, diced
  • 6 ounces bacon lardons
  • 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • ⅔ cup grated Parmesan, divided
  • 1 1/2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 8 ounces fresh spinach
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  2. Add the pasta to a large saucepan filled with salted boiling water, and cook the pasta for 6 to 8 minutes, until it is al dente. Drain the pasta and then set it to one side.
  3. In a large, deep-based frying pan, heat up the olive oil to a medium heat and then fry the diced chicken breast and the bacon lardons for a few minutes.
  4. Add the finely chopped garlic, the dried oregano, the smoked paprika, and salt and pepper to taste, and continue to fry the chicken and bacon for two more minutes.
  5. Add the flour to the pan and stir it in, before pouring in the chicken stock, the cream, and ½ cup of water to make a sauce.
  6. Stir in ⅓ cup of Parmesan along with the sun-dried tomatoes, then add the spinach and allow it to wilt.
  7. When the spinach has wilted and is stirred into the sauce, add the pasta and stir to fully coat the pasta in the sauce.
  8. Transfer the pasta and sauce to an appropriately-sized baking dish, and then sprinkle the remaining ⅓ cup of Parmesan on top of the pasta. Place the baking dish in the oven and allow the pasta to bake for 30 minutes until the top is beginning to crisp and turn golden, and then serve fresh and hot.