This post is sponsored by Stella® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
With a new baby in the house, it has become even more challenging to get dinner on the table, so I find myself looking for more and more quick meals and time saving solutions. At the same time, I don’t want to sacrifice taste and quantity. Today I’m sharing a recipe for Chicken Florentine Pasta. It is the perfect example of a quick and easy meal that tastes like it came from a gourmet restaurant, and it shows must how much you can do with a few good ingredients and a little creativity.
The key to this recipe is a a few fresh ingredients like chicken and cheeses. With Stella® cheeses you can transform any traditional dish or cheese plate into a gourmet experience. They make cheese in block form, as well as products that are already grated, and you can find everything from mozzarella and parmesan to asiago cheese.
Stella® cheeses are flavorful and combine old world craftsmanship with rich dairy heritage, dating back to 1923. Stella® Fresh Mozzarella Cheese offers a fresh, milky flavor and soft, delicate texture, reminiscent of the fresh mozzarella originally handmade in the Italian countryside. Its subtle, milky flavors pairs well with crisp, acidic wines.
You’ll find Stella cheeses in the section where fresh cheeses are kept. This is usually somewhere near your produce and other fresh ingredients. I bought mine at Kroger.
The cheeses that are already grated are an obvious convenience, but if you have a little time, grating it yourself really gives your dish that extra homemade touch!
Grilling your chicken is another way to add tons of flavor! When we have grilled chicken, we always have leftovers, and I enjoy cutting up the leftovers and putting it in a dish like this. It is a great way to repurpose the leftovers and not waste them. And it is also a time saver!
Finally, the base of the sauce used in this dish is actually a spinach dip. This should be made the night before, and if you already have leftover spinach dip from a party, this is a great way to use the leftovers. You can also purchase spinach dip already made. Your local grocery store should have a few options for you, include a fresh made version.
Ingredients:
1-2 cooked chicken breast (one if chicken breast is large, two if smaller)
2 cups uncooked angel hair pasta (broken in to pieces)
12 oz spinach dip (you can find this pre-made in your store or make your own using this recipe.
)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fresh grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
Take cooked chicken and chop in to small pieces. Set aside. Break up angel hair pasta in to pieces. (This makes it easier to measure and to eat.) Cook pasta on stove as directed. Then drain off water and set aside.
While pasta is cooking, make your sauce. The base is a spinach dip. You should make the spinach dip the night before. Here's a good recipe. You can also buy spinach dip already made. There are a couple of brands I've found and enjoy. You can usually find it with the fresh salads and dressing or in the section with sour cream and other dips.
Place spinach dip in a small sauce pan and cook on low to medium heat. Stir in milk. (You may need a little more milk or less, depending on how thick your dip is and how thick your want your sauce to be.) Stir in 1/2 cup of mozzarella and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. Once cheese is melted and ingredients well combined, pour sauce over your noodles and mix well. Stir in 1/2 to 3/4 of your chicken (reserving some chicken pieces for the top).
Once your sauce, chicken, and pasta are well combined. Pour into a casserole dish (I used a 7x11. An 8x8 or 9x9 will work as well.)
Place the rest of your chicken on top, and then top your dish with remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.
https://www.simplysweethome.com/2018/07/chicken-florentine-pasta/
Look for Stella® Fresh Mozzarella Cheese at your grocer and add flavor and freshness to your dish.
looks tasty
Omg that looks amazing!
Looks absolutely yummy!
This look like a second dinner from one chicken. Big fan of doing this.
This looks like something I would enjoy
This looks like an easy and delicious recipe! I know my daughter will love it.
This looks absolutely delicious I am going to make this for my family dinner
Looks delicious! I’m going to have to try it!
I can’t wait to try this recipe
Nice picture
LOOKS YUMMY!
It looks like a good meal to keep in the freezer and take out when you’re pressed for time.
Whenever we make casserole dishes like this, we use the opportunity to clear the cupboards of things that have been there too long. Every casserole needs some fillers!!!!
Looks divine, been a while since I made pasta
This recipe looks yummy
that dish looks so good
Looks yummy, and very easy to make. I bookmarked to try next week.
I love chicken and pasta. In fact most of us do around here! Only problem is this crazy diet I am on. I cant eat any cheese any way because of gallbladder problems have me limited. Then I am trying to lose weight which I should have lost when my gallbladder started acting up but nothing. So I have to cut out all carbs as well and limit sugary drinks and soda. I think I will make this however and just leave out the pasta ? Will it still be as good as you made it look? Have you tried it without the pasta? Thank you in advance!
That looks really good. Love me some cheese.
This looks fabulous and sooo easy. One pot dishes are the best when you bring it to the table. I would add some garlic bread and salad and YUM
That is a lot of cheesy goodness!
Looks delicious. I am going to try this recipe
This Chicken Florentine Pasta looks fabulous. Thank you for sharing.
This looks so good. I pinned it because I want to give it a try. Thanks!
This looks so good and my daughter would love it because it is smothered in cheese. She is funny about casseroles and food being mixed but she would let this fly w the cheese.
Delicious! Cheesy goodness 🙂
I think this is a great recipe and I love Florentine dished
i love the simplicity of the recipe. my toddler is a big fan of pasta too so im sure this would be a hit!
Spinach dip in pasta? Yes please!
This looks so good, this would satisfy all the family members….even the picky ones!
This dish doesn’t look like it’s for me, I don’t really care for chicken with cheese!