Chicken Parmesan Spinach Pasta Bake

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Gemelli pasta
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut up into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4 cu. Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 cu. grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cu. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 6 tbl. olive oil, divided
• 6 oz. bag fresh spinach, chopped
• 48 oz. your choice of marinara sauce

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9 X 13-inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.
2. Boil pasta for 2 minutes less than what is directed on package. Drain and set aside.
3. In a shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese and mix well. Working in batches, coat the chicken pieces in egg and then coat completely in the bread/cheese mixture.
4. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place half the chicken pieces into the skillet and cook about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
5. Remove and place on a plate covered with a paper towel. Continue process with remaining chicken, adding remaining olive oil to the skillet.
6. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chopped spinach and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Add Marinara sauce. Mix well.
7. Add chicken pieces and mix to coat. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprnkle with remaining cup of shredded mozzarella.
8. Bake for 30 minutes.