Pasta With Baked Pesto Chicken, Cherry Tomatoes and Spinach

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Servings: 4–6

Ingredients

½ lb (227 g) seashell pasta
1 cup reserved pasta water

1 (12 oz) package Sprouts Pesto Chicken Sausage Links, sliced into ½-inch rounds
1 (5.2 oz) package Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs
1 (5.2 oz) package Boursin Hot Honey & Roasted Garlic
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 (12 oz) packages of organic cherry tomatoes
1 (5 oz) package baby spinach
1–2 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Garnish

Shaved Parmesan
or crumbled feta
fresh italian parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven

Heat oven to 400°F (205°C).

2. Assemble the baking dish

In a 9×13-inch baking dish, add:

  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Sliced chicken sausage
  • Minced garlic
  • Drizzle with olive oil and toss lightly.
  • Place both packages of Boursin cheese in the center of the dish (leave them mostly whole so they melt slowly).

3. Bake

Bake for 20–25 minutes, until:

  • Tomatoes have burst.
  • Sausage is lightly browned.
  • Garlic is fragrant.
  • Boursin is very soft and melty.

4. Cook the pasta

Meanwhile, cook the shell pasta until al dente.
Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.

5. Make the sauce

Remove the baking dish from the oven.
Remove the skin from the garlic cloves and smash them with a fork until smooth. 
Using a spoon, mash the roasted tomatoes and Boursin together until smooth.
Slowly stir in ½–1 cup reserved pasta water until you have a creamy sauce.

6. Add the spinach

Add the baby spinach directly to the hot baking dish.
Stir for 2–3 minutes until it wilts into the sauce.

7. Finish

Fold in the cooked pasta and mix until every shell is coated. Add a little more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

8. Garnish

Top with shaved Parmesan or crumbled feta and serve immediately.

Optional additions

  • Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the tomatoes before baking.
  • Add ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes if you'd like a little extra heat.
  • Finish with chopped fresh basil for a fresh, summery flavor.

This version is very similar to the popular baked feta pasta method, except the two Boursin cheeses create an even creamier, more flavorful sauce with the pesto chicken sausage.

Inspiration

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