This Cheesy Spinach Dip Chicken Pasta will be your new favorite dinner! I combined the spinach dip and all of its creamy goodness with cooked penne and chicken. Then I topped it all with mozzarella and baked into one delicious meal!
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Why You'll Love This Pasta
How about a creamy pasta topped with gooey cheese for dinner? What if we added spinach dip to the equation? I'll tell you what - your new favorite weeknight dinner! It's absolutely delicious and the whole family loves it!
This has been our favorite weeknight dinner. I make it on Tuesdays, our busiest time in the week when our girls have dance classes and we get back home late. I do all of the prep during the day. When we get home, I top it with cheese and bake while we make a salad and the dinner is ready in 15 minutes. Talk about a time-saver!
Ingredients:
- pasta - I used penne pasta but any bite-size pasta works.
- chicken - I recommend boneless skinless chicken breast.
- flour - Sprinkled over chicken, allows it to brown nicely.
- sour cream - The base for the sauce. You can use Greek yogurt instead.
- cream cheese - Makes the sauce and the overall dish, creamy and rich.
- milk - Necessary to thin out the sauce mixture. I actually prefer half and half for a richer flavor.
- spinach - You can use frozen or fresh spinach. Frozen needs to be thawed and squeezed out of excess moisture.
- Ranch mix - Just like in making a spinach dip, this seasoning mix gives it the signature flavor.
- cheese - I used freshly grated mozzarella cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with starch to prevent clumping and it doesn't melt as well.
How to make spinach dip chicken pasta?
- Start by buttering a 2-quart baking dish.
- Cook pasta, drain and keep warm.
- Dice chicken, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over chicken and toss to coat.
- Cook chicken until no longer pink.
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, mix together sour cream, cream cheese, Ranch mix, half and half and spinach.
- Add cooked pasta and chicken to the spinach mixture and stir all together. Transfer the mixture into the prepared dish.
- If serving right away, top the dish with cheese and bake for 10 minutes. The cheese should be melted. You can then turn the oven to broiler (on low setting) and broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese bubbles up and gets golden brown spots.
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Pasta dinner that tastes like your favorite dip!
Pasta dinners are one of our favorites for weeknights. They are so versatile and so easy to make. This one is inspired by my Hubby. One of his favorite dips is the spinach dip (I skip the artichokes but feel free to include them).
This dish is also great to take to neighbors that just had a baby, or friends that are sick. Everyone will love it! It's a hit with kids even though it has spinach. And that is a win!
Common questions:
You can use fresh or frozen spinach in this dish. I tried both and didn't notice much difference. Go with fresh is it's in season and frozen when you can't find it. Don't forget to thaw it before using in the recipe.
You can use 1 teaspoon of each dried dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder to substitute for the ready mix. I hope this helps!
You can freeze this casserole, but keep in mind that it has sour cream and cream cheese. They may turn a little grainy during freezing. Thaw the casserole, stir it well and then bake.
Absolutely! Any shortcut you can take, go for it! Already cooked chicken (diced or even shredded) works well. It saves you time because you can skip the first few steps.
Absolutely! Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Let it sit in room temperature while the oven preheats. Do not place cold from the fridge casserole in the oven or your dish will break.
More pasta recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Cheesy Spinach Dip Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups uncooked penne rigate
- 2 chicken breasts
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup half and half or whole milk
- 1 pkg dry Ranch mix
- 5 oz frozen spinach or 4 ounces of fresh
- 1 ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Butter a 2 quart baking dish. Set aside.
- Cook pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Drain and keep warm.2 ½ cups uncooked penne rigate
- Dice chicken, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over chicken and toss to coat.2 chicken breasts, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink.
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, mix together sour cream, cream cheese, Ranch mix, half and half and spinach.½ cup sour cream, 4 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup half and half or whole milk, 1 pkg dry Ranch mix, 5 oz frozen spinach or 4 ounces of fresh
- Add cooked pasta and chicken to the spinach mixture and stir all together. Transfer the mixture into the prepared dish.
- At this point, you can cover the dish with saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- If serving right away, top the dish with cheese and bake for 10 minutes at 375℉ oven. The cheese should be melted. You can then turn the oven to broiler (on low setting) and broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese bubbles up and gets golden brown spots.1 ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Let stand in room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen spinach in this dish. I tried both and didn’t notice much difference. Go with fresh is it’s in season and frozen when you can’t find it.
- I do not use table salt in this recipe. Kosher salt is less salty so keep that in mind.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Brenda says
Awesome dish. Will definitely make it again!
McCall says
One of my new favorite casseroles! I made it exactly how the recipe is written and it's delicious (actually I added more spinach because I love spinach). After reading some comments, I'm excited to try different versions, like add artichokes, use crispy chicken tenders, add feta cheese.. thank you!!!
I like the idea of freezing for later, but not sure of how long to cook in the oven before adding cheese. Someone said about 35 minutes, is this correct?
Jola says
I have used this recipe several times and made more because the pasta is so delicious. I froze a portion once, and it was great, too.
Amanda says
Did you thaw before heating the frozen portion? I have frozen 2 aluminum pans full and wondering if I should thaw overnight or if it will bake OK right from the freezer. Thanks.
Margie says
Can this be prepared and frozen to bake later?
Heather B says
Made this for 3 families tonight, thank you! Can this be frozen? If so, how? Thanks!!
Chris says
I did. I used cooked diced chicken and doubled the recipe. I cooked it longer like 35 minutes and let ut rest for ten. As my husband would say it's a keeper.
Christopher says
Wonderful pasta and spinach. Perfect proportions. Quick and tasty lunch for my family
Przyprawione Sercem says
Wonderful recipe
Minski says
It's the day after Halloween and I'm not feeling well. We had spinach dip left from our weekend party and I made chicken tacos for dinner last night. I mixed the two together and then with pasta. I never would've thought to mix this dip with pasta, so thank you. It was soooo good!!!
Anna says
Perfect! I am so glad the pasta was a success! Thank you!
Mr. White says
We love it and have some picky eaters but everyone wants it at dinner and if there's leftovers, they are gone quickly too.
Holly says
I actually added a little bit of sugar to balance out the salt in the ranch seasoning. It helps.
Anna says
Thank you for making my recipe, Holly!
Ruth says
What van i use insead Ranch mix
Anna says
Hi Ruth! You can use 1 teaspoon of each dried dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder to substitute for the ready mix. I hope this helps!