Cheesy Spinach Dip Chicken Pasta – your new favorite dinner! Spinach dip and pasta get together to create one cheesy and creamy dish! You need to make it!
SPINACH DIP CHICKEN 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!
HOW TO MAKE SPINACH DIP CHICKEN PASTA?
- Start by buttering a 2-quart baking dish. Set aside.
- Cook pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Drain and keep warm.
- Dice chicken, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over chicken and toss to coat.
- 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. 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 degree F 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. Let stand in room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
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 as I do not like them, but if you do – feel free to include them). It’s football season so naturally, we have game day food on our minds. Hence the cheesy bread and it’s jalapeno brother.
WHAT SPINACH TO USE IN THIS RECIPE?
But let’s talk about this dinner! I combined the spinach dip and all of its creamy goodness with cooked penne and cooked chicken. Then I topped it all with mozzarella and baked into one glorious meal! It is so crazy good – it’s crazy!
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 we all know how kids react to spinach.
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.
Spinach dip plus chicken pasta – who wouldn’t love it? Save this recipe to make this week! You can thank me later. 🙂 Enjoy, friends!
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
Related Recipes:
One Pot Cheesy Tortellini and Meatballs
Healthy Spinach Dip Mac and Cheese
One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Spinach Pasta with Beans
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
Spaghetti alla Carbonara with Ham
CHEESY SPINACH DIP CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE:
- 2 and 1/2 cups uncooked penne rigate
- 2 chicken breasts
- salt
- pepper
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup half and half or whole milk
- 1 pkg dry Ranch mix
- 5 oz frozen spinach or half of a batch of fresh
- 1 and 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Butter a 2 quart baking dish. Set aside.
- Cook pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Drain and keep warm.
- Dice chicken, season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over chicken and toss to coat.
- 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.
- 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 degree F 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.
- Let stand in room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
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.
Amy says
February 1, 2019 at 3:23 pmRecipe looks amazing. I would like to try . Where are all the measurements? Thank you in advance.
Nettie Lewis says
January 31, 2019 at 5:45 amHi, I’m not really fond of the flavor of Ranch Dressing – any idea for a substitute? Thanks –
* Even though I haven’t yet made this casserole it gets five stars for looks and the positive comments of those who have.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
January 31, 2019 at 11:52 amHi Nettie! You can completely skip it and use a mix of dried parsley, onion powder, garlic powder and dried dill. I hope this helps!
Sarah says
December 18, 2018 at 7:19 pmI found this recipe on Facebook, made it and shared with the neighbors. All 4 of us agreed that it makes an amazing dinner. I always prep ahead, and my husband puts it in the oven while I am at work!
C says
January 28, 2019 at 12:32 pmAnna, looks yummy and easy. How did you come up with calorie count? I entered recipe into myfitnesspal and got 558 calories for one of 4 servings.
Donna Palmer says
November 14, 2018 at 7:00 pmAbsolutely delicious!!!
So good in fact that my husband and I had to make ourselves stop after our 2nd helping!
Super easy to make and truly delicious!!!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
November 15, 2018 at 9:04 pmHi Donna! Yay! That’s fantastic! I am so happy to know you and your husband loved the dish. Thank you so much for letting me know!
Norma Howell says
November 5, 2018 at 8:47 pmApproximately how much is half of a batch of fresh spinach? 2 cups ?
Susan says
October 9, 2018 at 5:37 pmYes, fresh spinach has no taste really, I use it in my fruit smoothies even. I don’t like frozen or canned spinach, you can really taste the difference with fresh versus frozen.
dawn says
September 27, 2018 at 5:53 ami don’t see where it says to cut up the chicken. do you leave it whole breasts or dice up to mix
Alex says
October 4, 2018 at 1:22 pmStep 3 And 4 give you directions for the chicken. Dice and cook.
Margie says
May 23, 2018 at 10:13 amThis has got to be the BEST chicken casserole that I have made! We love it! Since we are big fans of spinach artichoke dip, I added artichokes to the recipe. This made it even better! Give it a try. You will be amazed!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
May 23, 2018 at 10:30 pmHi Margie! Yay! That’s wonderful! HANK YOU SO MUCH! I am so happy to know you love this pasta. I agree, artichokes are awesome in it too! 😀
Megan says
August 5, 2018 at 3:59 pmHow did you add the artichokes?? Speaking as a new wife who has never tried to make artichokes before! 😬
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
August 6, 2018 at 12:28 pmHi Megan! You can buy artichoke hearts in a can. Just drain and rinse before using in this recipe. Add when adding spinach. Hope this helps!
Erin says
May 11, 2018 at 8:42 pmAwesome recipe, I would suggest putting cheese inside the mix too, not just on top
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
May 15, 2018 at 12:36 pmTotally agree, Erin! The more cheese, the better! 😀
Elizabeth says
March 10, 2018 at 5:16 pmCould I freeze this? Thaw when I’m ready to use and bake like 30 mins, top with cheese and cook 5-10 minutes longer until golden & melted?
Stephanie says
March 8, 2018 at 3:42 pmI’ve made this dish and just love it. The next day it taste even better
Renee Kelly says
January 18, 2018 at 10:31 pmI’ve just found this recipe on Facebook, and while reading through the ingredients I’m questioning one of them: do you use ranch dip or dressing mix? There IS a difference.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
January 19, 2018 at 12:00 pmHi Renee! I always use Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Seasoning & Salad Dressing Mix. I hope this helps! Thank you!
Kat says
August 26, 2017 at 12:52 pmJust made this last night, Everyone loved it! Will be making it again soon 🙂
Lisa says
August 13, 2017 at 1:13 pmI loved the taste. It was a little dry the next day heated up so I think I will try to add a little more sauce part to it. It was delicious thank you for the recipe!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
August 13, 2017 at 5:25 pmHi Lisa! I am so happy to know you loved it! Thank you for trying my recipe. 😀 Have a beautiful day! -Anna
Kelly says
August 2, 2017 at 1:53 amThank you for this wonderful recipe!!! It is a great base. I enhanced by adding sauteed red and green bell peppers plus 4 cloves of crushed garlic. Also added jack and cheddar cheeses to the mozarella. Next time, I will increase the spinach. Thanks again for such great inspiration.
Julia Kruz says
July 27, 2017 at 8:10 amDefinitely Cheesy Spinach Dip Chicken Pasta – my new favorite dinner! I found your post from Pinterest ! Thanks for sharing, Anna!
Carol T says
December 19, 2016 at 7:23 amThis looks amazing. My favorite dip is Spinich dip. So I know it has to be good to add Chicken and pasta. And all that cheese. How could it not be fantastic. Looking so forward to it one night this week coming.
Excited.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
December 19, 2016 at 1:40 pmHi Carol! Our favorite dip is spinach dip too! That’s how we came up with this idea. 😀 I hope you love it! Let me know! -Anna
Bobbie says
October 30, 2016 at 7:54 pmI made this tonight and have a question. Should I have washed/rinsed the frozen spinach? My kids aren’t too picky, but 3 of my 4 didn’t love this dish and my 9 year old said the spinach ruined it for her. I ate after my kids and have to admit, the spinach flavor was stronger than I would’ve liked. I couldn’t taste much of the ranch at all. Then I realized that maybe in my ignorance as a cook, I was supposed to have done something with the spinach beyond just thawing and tossing in. In theory, this recipe sounds like something my family should love. Would using fresh spinach help my problem?
Susan says
October 9, 2018 at 5:36 pmYes, fresh spinach has no taste really, I use it in my fruit smoothies even. I don’t like frozen or canned spinach, you can really taste the difference with fresh versus frozen.
Erica says
September 25, 2016 at 7:35 pmDoes this meal freeze well? I’m trying to make a bunch of meals before my little man arrives in october.
Jen says
September 2, 2016 at 7:06 amMade this last night – yummo! I used fresh baby spinach, greek yogurt for the sour cream, and leftover grilled chicken. I was worried the dish might be bland but that ranch packet didn’t disappoint!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
September 3, 2016 at 12:00 pmHi Jen! That’s fantastic! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for letting me know! Have a beautiful weekend! 😀 -Anna