Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake

Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake – pasta, onion, spinach, chicken, tomatoes, chive-and-onion cream cheese, garlic and mozzarella. This casserole was a HUGE hit!! Everyone cleaned their plate! Can make ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake. Great potluck meal!

Easy Chicken & Spinach Pasta Casserole

This Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake is a new favorite. We ate this for dinner the other night, and I am ready to make it again! This pasta bake is so easy to make and tastes incredible. It is easy enough for a weeknight, but it would also be a great dish for company. You can even make this ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. I love make-ahead dishes!

How to Make Chicken & Spinach Pasta

This casserole is very easy to make. Start with boiling the pasta. Mix together spinach, chicken, diced tomatoes, cream cheese, onion, garlic, mozzarella, and the cooked pasta. Spread the pasta in a baking dish. Top with more mozzarella cheese and bake.

• The secret ingredient in this pasta is a container of chive and onion cream cheese. It adds lots of flavor and makes this pasta bake super creamy.
• I used rotisserie chicken for the cooked chicken in this recipe.
• Make sure to drain the frozen spinach really well. I squeeze it with a dish towel or some paper towels to make sure to get as much liquid out.
• Can Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble this casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight.
• Can Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake be frozen? Yes! You can assemble the casserole and freeze unbaked for a quick meal later. To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed.
• Write the baking directions on the foil covering the casserole dish so you know the temperature and time to bake the casserole.

What to Serve with Pasta Casserole

This smelled amazing while it was baking. We couldn’t wait to dig in! All you need is a little side salad and a garlic roll and dinner is ready! Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this easy pasta dish:

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Creamy Italiano Salad

Creamy Italiano Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe – our favorite salad!!! Romaine, tomatoes, thinly sliced seedless cucumbers, sliced banana peppers,…

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Easy Parmesan Bread Twists

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Green Jacket Salad

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Copycat Pizza Hut Breadsticks

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Recipe Print Recipe

Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake

Author: Plain Chicken

Yield: 6 people

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake – pasta, onion, spinach, chicken, tomatoes, chive-and-onion cream cheese, garlic and mozzarella. This casserole was a HUGE hit!! Everyone cleaned their plate! Can make ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake. Great potluck meal!

Ingredients:

• 8 -oz uncooked rigatoni
• 3 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
• 1 (10-oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 3 cups cooked chopped chicken
• 1 (14.5-oz) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (8-oz) container chive-and-onion cream cheese, softened
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF. Highly spray a 9×9-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Cook rigatoni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Drain chopped spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels.
• In a bowl, combine cooked rigatoni, drained spinach, cooked chicken, onion flakes, tomatoes, cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and ½ cup mozzarella cheese.
• Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with remaining shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes.

Notes:

• The secret ingredient in this pasta is a container of chive and onion cream cheese. It adds lots of flavor and makes this pasta bake super creamy.
• I used rotisserie chicken for the cooked chicken in this recipe.
• Make sure to drain the frozen spinach really well. I squeeze it with a dish towel or some paper towels to make sure to get as much liquid out.
• You can assemble this casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight.
• You can assemble the casserole and freeze unbaked for a quick meal later. To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed.
• Write the baking directions on the foil covering the casserole dish so you know the temperature and time to bake the casserole.

Plain Chicken

https://www.plainchicken.com/cheesy-chicken-and-spinach-pasta-bake/

All images and text © Plain Chicken, Inc.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @plainchicken or tag #plainchicken!

Steph