Healthy Three Cheese Chicken Pasta Bake

By Tara-3

Recipe by girlwhoateeverything

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups multi-grain penne pasta, uncooked
• 1 (9 ounce) package fresh spinach leaves
• 1 pound uncooked chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 Tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 (14.5 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 2 ounces Neufchatel cheese, cubed
• 1 cup shredded 2% milk mozzarella cheese
• 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375º degrees.

Cook pasta as directed on package. Add spinach to the boiling water the last minute of cooking.

Cook chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat for around 3 minutes. Stir in spaghetti sauce, garlic, and tomatoes; bring to boil. Simmer on low heat for 3 minutes or until chicken is done.
Stir in Neufchatel cheese and mix until combined.
Drain pasta and spinach and return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella and mix until combined. Spoon into a 2 quart baking dish.

Bake 20 minutes in the oven. Top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.