This Dump-And-Bake Chicken Spinach Pasta is everything you need for a weeknight. All done in just over 1 hour, with just 10 minutes of prep. Creamy and filled with cheese this will become an immediate favorite with your whole family!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It's easy - you don't even need to cook pasta!
- It's quick to prep - 10 minutes is all you need
- Pasta cooked in milk & cream & cheese might just be the best kind of pasta
- Perfect golden crust from two types of cheese
- Full of flavor from parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes
- A healthy touch from lots of spinach
- Reheats extremely well - so well in fact, that it's even better the next day
What You Need to Make It
- Chicken: Either use raw chicken that you cook according to the instructions in the recipe card below, or use leftover chicken. I prefer to use chicken thigh filets, but any cut of chicken works - just cut it in bite-size pieces. You can also use shredded chicken.
- Penne pasta can be swapped for fusilli, or another similar-size pasta
- Cheese: I like to use two kinds, one well-melting (and cheaper) kind like mozzarella and one flavorful kind like Parmesan. But you can use all mozzarella, orother kinds.
- Butter can be swapped for vegetable oil
- Sun-dried tomatoes: I always use the kind in oil, but you can use the dry kind as well. Just soak them in hot water for a few hours until softened.
Prep Your Chicken
If you're using leftover chicken, you can skip these steps!
- Melt the butter for the chicken in a pan over medium high heat
- Add the the chicken
- Fry for a minute to give it some color
- Season with paprika powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper
Season Well
If you're using leftover chicken, you can skip these steps!
- Cook for a few minutes until the chicken has a nice color on all sides
- The chicken does not have to be cooked all the way through
- Push the chicken to one side of the pan and add the tomato paste on the other side. Fry the tomato paste for 1 minute.
- Mix in the tomato paste with the chicken, then remove from the heat and set aside for now
Pasta + Chicken
- Bring out a deep oven dish and grease with butter
- Add the raw pasta
- Add the cooked chicken
- Add sun-dried tomatoes
Keep Layering
- Add the spinach
- Add half the Parmesan cheese
- Add half the Mozzarella
- Mix
All The Cheese
- Make sure everything is mixed well
- Add the remaining Parmesan cheese
- Add the rest of the mozzarella
- Pour over the cream
Time to Bake
- Pour over the milk
- Make sure all the pasta pieces are submerged, and use a spoon to gently press down any pieces that are not
- Bake in the middle of the oven at 440°F (225°C) for one hour. Check once halfway to make sure it's not getting too dark - if it is, cover with a piece of oven foil.
- Bring out the Chicken Spinach Pasta and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- To make it quicker use leftover chicken instead of raw chicken
- Fry the tomato paste to intensify the taste.
- Let it sit after baking to allow for it to "set" - if not, it's going to be a bit runny
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days
- Freeze leftovers to keep them for up to 3 months
More Quick & Easy Pasta Recipes
Love easy weeknight dinners? Then you will love these pasta recipes!
Keep reading for even more quick, delicious pastas perfect for weeknight meals!
Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken
Make this flavor packed Sundried Tomato Pasta with Chicken in just 20 minutes for a deliciously simple weeknight meal. This super creamy sauce boasts delicious flavors from crème fraîche, sun-dried tomatoes and dried herbs.
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This quick and easy chicken pasta recipe takes 30 minutes or less from start to finish. It's loaded with a creamy homemade alfredo sauce, sliced chicken breast, and al dente noodles for a simple weeknight comfort food your family will love!
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Creamy Chicken Pasta with Red Wine & Mushrooms
On your table in just 30 minutes - this Creamy Chicken Pasta is a winner every time! Packed full of fall flavors like red wine, mushrooms and thyme, it's a perfect easy dinner - that you will love to have in your lunchbox the next day. And it's sure to become your new favorite pasta dish!
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
One of my favorite easy meals is this super simple chicken pesto pasta salad! It's light, fresh, and comes together in less than 20 minutes. With creamy pesto and mascarpone cheese, grilled chicken, spinach, and tomatoes it's the perfect easy dinner or lunch!
Pesto Chicken Pasta
This Pesto Chicken Pasta is an easy, 20-minute meal that's made with just 5 shelf-stable ingredients. Bow tie pasta and chicken are coated in a rich and flavorful pesto sauce.
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Thai curry + spaghetti = a dish so delicious you'll be wanting it every week.
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Brown butter and sage is such a satisfying flavor combination! Wholesome and easy to make, this dinner idea will be a favorite for years to come.
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Lots of chicken and broccoli for a super-filling dinner that will be sure to leave you leftovers.
Kung Pao Spaghetti
This Kung Pao Spaghetti recipe is a sweet and spicy variation of your favorite Chinese takeout. Flavorful pasta, chicken, and veggies are slathered in easy homemade kung pao sauce, then topped with peanuts and spring onions for a family-friendly dinner ready in just 30 minutes.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
This cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake takes less than 10 minutes to prep and is all done in under an hour. It's loaded with spicy buffalo sauce and hidden spinach, and so cheesy and delicious. An indulgent and easy meal, perfect for a weeknight!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is excellent for an easy family dinner or a crowd-pleaser side dish. Tender chicken, crispy bacon, cooked pasta, and fresh vegetables tossed in a creamy ranch dressing for the most delicious and hearty salad.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Casserole
This Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole is an easy and delicious pasta bake with all the great flavors you love from the classic dish! Pasta is tossed in a creamy cheese sauce with ham and chicken, and it's all topped with a crunchy breadcrumb mixture.
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
Tender, juicy, aromatic chicken with perfectly cooked penne pasta. This is the easiest way to make delicious Alfredo pasta and it's done oh so quickly!
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Inspired by the classic soup, this Chicken Noodle Casserole is full of chicken, vegetables, and egg noodles with a creamy sauce that ties all the flavors together. This budget-friendly meal uses pantry staples, and you can easily customize it based on what you already have on hand!
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