Spinach Dip Pasta
Spinach Dip Pasta
Ingredients
For the Pasta and Chicken
- 12 ounces pasta, penne, rotini, or fettuccine
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Spinach Dip Sauce
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 ounces fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half & half
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- 1
Cook 12 ounces of your preferred pasta (penne, rotini, or fettuccine) according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces, to the skillet. Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of Ranch seasoning, 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Cook the chicken until it is browned and cooked through. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
To the same skillet, add the 1/2 diced onion. Cook until the onion is softened. Then, add the 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for an additional 1 minute.
⏱️ 4 min
- 4
Add the 10 ounces bag of fresh spinach and 1/2 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Cook until the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Introduce 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup of heavy cream or half & half, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese to the skillet. Stir continuously until all the cheeses are melted and the sauce is well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Stir thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well coated with the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta water until your desired consistency is reached.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Serve the Spinach Dip Pasta immediately and enjoy.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spinach Dip Pasta
For the Pasta and Chicken
- 12 ounces pasta, penne, rotini, or fettuccine
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Spinach Dip Sauce
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 ounces fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half & half
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- 1
Cook 12 ounces of your preferred pasta (penne, rotini, or fettuccine) according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces, to the skillet. Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of Ranch seasoning, 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Cook the chicken until it is browned and cooked through. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
To the same skillet, add the 1/2 diced onion. Cook until the onion is softened. Then, add the 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for an additional 1 minute.
⏱️ 4 min - 4
Add the 10 ounces bag of fresh spinach and 1/2 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Cook until the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Introduce 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup of heavy cream or half & half, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese to the skillet. Stir continuously until all the cheeses are melted and the sauce is well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Return the cooked chicken and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Stir thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well coated with the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta water until your desired consistency is reached.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Serve the Spinach Dip Pasta immediately and enjoy.
⏱️ 1 min