Meat & Poultry Chicken Healthy Chicken Main Dish Recipes Healthy Chicken Pasta Recipes Creamy Rotisserie Chicken & Spinach Pasta 4.8 (5) 4 Reviews This creamy rotisserie chicken pasta recipe uses Gruyère cheese and cream cheese as the base for the velvety sauce. Gruyère adds a rich and nutty flavor, although you can experiment with alternatives like Cheddar or Swiss cheese. We love the ease of using baby spinach, but feel free to swap it out for another leafy green like kale or Swiss chard if you have them on hand. By Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee is a test kitchen assistant at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She has tested recipes for brands including Allrecipes, EatingWell, Food & Wine, Real Simple, People and Southern Living. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 14, 2024 Tested by Craig Ruff Tested by Craig Ruff Craig Ruff was first exposed to professional food service while working for an event center at the business school he was attending. There, he was responsible for maintaining the kitchen for caterers. He has been a lifelong cook, and followed his passion through culinary school and to working in restaurants. Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Active Time: 20 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 8 Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Nut-Free Soy-Free High-Protein Egg-Free Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 12 ounces whole-wheat penne 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided 12 cups loosely packed baby spinach 2 medium cloves garlic, minced 1 cup half-and-half 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper, plus more for garnish 3 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish Directions Bring water to a boil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water; drain well. Wipe the pot clean. Heat oil in the pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring often, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add spinach and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is bright green and wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add half-and-half, Gruyère, cream cheese, mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, crushed red pepper, black pepper and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring constantly, until the cheese is melted and the mixture is mostly smooth, about 2 minutes. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Stir in the pasta, chicken and parsley, adding the reserved cooking water, 2 tablespoons at a time, if needed, to keep the sauce loose and creamy. Cook until the pasta and chicken are coated and warmed through, about 1 minute. Divide among 8 bowls; garnish with additional parsley and black pepper, if desired. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Nutrition Information Serving Size: 1 1/4 cupsCalories 443, Fat 21g, Saturated Fat 9g, Cholesterol 96mg, Carbohydrates 38g, Total Sugars 4g, Added Sugars 0g, Protein 28g, Fiber 6g, Sodium 710mg, Potassium 272mg EatingWell.com, February 2024 Rate It Print