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creamy tuscan chicken pasta bake in casserole dish

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake

RecipeBoy.com (shared from Recipetin Eats Dinner)
A wonderful pasta bake full of all of your favorite things!
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 929 kcal

Ingredients
  

PASTA:

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 12 ounces penne or ziti
  • 5 ounces bacon slices
  • 2 cups (tightly packed) baby spinach
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomato strips in oil, drained (and roughly chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons chopped parsley, for serving (optional)

CHICKEN:

TUSCAN SAUCE:

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉.

PREPARE THE PASTA:

  • In a large pot, bring 12 cups of water to a boil with the salt. Cook the pasta as per the package directions, then drain and let cool.

PREPARE THE BACON:

  • Lay the bacon in an unheated large pot (no oil needed) over medium-high heat. Cook for 3 minutes until golden, then turn and cook the other side for 2 minutes or until golden. Place on a paper towel-lined plate then chop into ½-inch pieces. Discard the bacon fat in the pot.

COOK THE CHICKEN:

  • Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Using the same pot over medium-high, melt the butter. Cook the chicken for 4 minutes on each side, then transfer to a plate. Rest for 5 minutes and cut into ½-inch thick slices.

MAKE THE TUSCAN SAUCE:

  • Melt the butter in the same pot, still on medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Add the wine, stir, then simmer rapidly for 2 minutes or until mostly evaporated. Lower the heat to medium, add the flour and stir for 1 minute. Switch to a whisk. While whisking, slowly pour in the milk- the mixture will thicken. Once the flour and milk are combined, add the cream and chicken broth. Whisk until lump-free. Bring to a simmer and stir regularly with a wooden spoon for 4 to 5 minutes until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the wooden spoon.
    Stir in the onion and garlic powder, salt, pepper and ⅔ of both the Parmesan and mozzarella. Once the cheese melts, the sauce should be thick and creamy.

ASSEMBLE AND BAKE:

  • Stir in the spinach, chicken, sun-dried tomato, most of the bacon (reserve some for topping) and pasta. Pour into a 13x9-inch baking dish, sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan, followed by the mozzarella and bacon. Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.

SERVE:

  • Let the pasta dish stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 929kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 47gFat: 55gSaturated Fat: 29gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 213mgSodium: 2359mgPotassium: 876mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2631IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 558mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chicken, pasta, tuscan
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