This dump-and-bake Tuscan hen bake is a creamy, tacky, and flavor-packed dish. With hen, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach baked with pasta in a luscious coconut milk and cheese sauce, this recipe is each indulgent and easy. Good for weeknight dinners or a comfortable weekend meal, it’s a crowd-pleaser you’ll wish to make many times.
When you’re into creamy, comforting meals which can be tremendous straightforward to drag off, this Tuscan hen bake goes to hit the spot.
It’s filled with hen, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes, all baked collectively in a tacky, creamy sauce with pasta. It’s a type of dishes that feels a little bit fancy however is definitely easy sufficient for a weeknight.
When you’re loving the sound of this, you may additionally wish to attempt my Rooster Pesto Pasta or Caprese Rooster Skillet. They’re simply as scrumptious and excellent for while you want one thing cozy and satisfying.
What We Suppose You’ll Love About This Recipe
Ingredient Overview
You’ll want to take a look at the complete recipe and ingredient record beneath
- Rooster Breasts. We use boneless, skinless hen breasts, lower into smaller items to ensure they prepare dinner evenly and keep tender.
You have to to chop the breasts into cutlets. As talked about in our mushroom hen publish, Severe Eats has an amazing tutorial on tips on how to lower hen breasts into cutlets. Then lower every cutlet in half to make 8 hen breast items in whole.
When you want, boneless hen thighs additionally work nicely. - Pasta. Brief pasta like penne or fusilli is right as a result of it holds onto the sauce superbly. Gluten-free pasta can be utilized instead—simply modify the cooking time, as it might prepare dinner quicker.
- Unsweetened Coconut Milk: You’ll want to use unsweetened full-fat coconut milk. We selected coconut milk as an alternative of heavy cream as a result of heavy cream tends to upset my husband’s abdomen, and it really works splendidly on this recipe! It offers the sauce a creamy, wealthy texture with a refined sweetness that balances the savory flavors. When you don’t have coconut milk or don’t wish to use it, the most effective substitutes are heavy cream or half-and-half (if dairy isn’t a problem) or cashew cream for a dairy-free choice.
- Solar-Dried Tomatoes. These add tangy taste. When you don’t have sun-dried tomatoes, roasted pink peppers and even halved cherry tomatoes could make substitute.
- Child Spinach. Contemporary spinach provides shade and vitamins to the dish. Kale or Swiss chard also can work, although they might must be chopped finely or cooked barely beforehand.
- Parmesan Cheese. This provides a salty, nutty taste to the sauce.
- Mozzarella Cheese. Mozzarella offers the bake that melty, golden topping everybody loves.
- Italian Seasoning. A store-bought Italian seasoning mix is fast and straightforward, however you’ll be able to combine your personal with dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
- Rooster Broth. Rooster broth enhances the flavour of the sauce and ensures it’s not overly thick.
- Crimson Pepper Flakes (Optionally available). These add a mild kick of warmth. When you’re not a fan of spice, be at liberty to skip them or scale back the quantity.
How one can Make It (Step-By-Step Photographs)
Marinate the Rooster: In a small bowl, whisk collectively the marinade elements, pour over the hen in a resealable bag or dish, and refrigerate for half-hour to 4 hours.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375 F (190 C).
Ideas for Success
- Marinate for Most Taste and Juiciness. Let the hen marinate for at the least half-hour, however in case you have time, go for the complete 4 hours to infuse the hen with extra taste.
- Sear for Further Depth. Whereas non-compulsory, a fast sear on the hen provides a layer of taste and helps seal within the juices. It’s value the additional step in case you have time.
- Use Unsweetened Coconut Milk. You’ll want to use unsweetened full-fat coconut milk to keep away from an excessively candy or skinny sauce.
- Select the Proper Pasta. Brief pasta shapes like penne or fusilli maintain up greatest throughout baking and absorb the sauce superbly. Keep away from delicate shapes that will overcook or break aside.
- Test for Doneness. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the hen reaches an inner temperature of 165 F (74 C). This prevents overcooking and retains the hen juicy.
- Don’t Skip the Stirring. When assembling the pasta combination, ensure that every thing is nicely combined within the baking dish.
- Broil with Care. Preserve an in depth eye on the dish whereas broiling to make certain the cheese melts completely with out burning.
- Relaxation Earlier than Serving. Let the dish relaxation for a couple of minutes after baking. This permits the sauce to thicken barely and the flavors to meld collectively.
Storage and Reheating
- Fridge:
- Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Enable the dish to chill earlier than transferring it to a container.
- Freezer:
- Cool the dish fully, then switch it to a freezer-safe container or tightly wrap it in foil and plastic wrap.
- Freeze for as much as 3 months.
- Reheating:
- Oven: Reheat at 350 F (177 C) for 15-20 minutes or till warmed by means of. Cowl with foil to forestall the cheese from over-browning.
- Microwave: Warmth particular person parts within the microwave in 1-minute increments till sizzling. Add a splash of hen broth or coconut milk to maintain the pasta moist.
- Ideas for Freezing and Reheating:
- Barely undercook the pasta earlier than freezing to forestall it from changing into too delicate when reheated.
- Thaw frozen parts within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating within the oven.
Marinade:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice about 1 massive lemon or 2 small lemons
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Rooster Bake:
- 2 raw boneless, skinless hen breasts Lower in half lengthwise to create cutlets, then lower every cutlet in half horizontally (8 items whole)
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped (if in oil, drained and patted dry) (Observe 1)
- 1 cup child spinach roughly chopped
- 1 cup hen broth scale back by ¼ cup to account for hen juices; see Observe 1
- 1 13.5 ounce can unsweetened full-fat coconut milk 13.5 ounces (or 1½ cups for much less) (Observe 2)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese or dairy-free various
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or dairy-free various
- 1 to 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt modify to style
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon pink pepper flakes non-compulsory, for a bit of warmth (Observe 3)
- 8 ounces raw pasta reminiscent of penne or fusilli (Observe 4)
- Contemporary basil for garnish (non-compulsory)
Marinade:
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In a small bowl, whisk collectively olive oil, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Place the hen breast items in a resealable bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over them.
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Seal the bag or cowl the dish, then refrigerate for at the least half-hour (or as much as 4 hours for extra taste).
Rooster Bake:
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Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
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In a greased 9×13-inch baking dish or spherical baking dish, mix the raw pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, hen broth, coconut milk, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and pink pepper flakes (if utilizing). Stir every thing collectively till nicely combined.
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Take away the hen from the marinade and organize the items on high of the pasta combination.If desired, for extra taste, you’ll be able to briefly sear the hen breast items in a big skillet on medium-high warmth for 1-2 minutes per facet earlier than including them to the baking dish. This isn’t essential although.Cowl the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35-40 minutes, or till the hen reaches an inner temperature of 165°F and the pasta is tender. (See Observe 5 for checking doneness.)
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Take away the foil, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly excessive, and return the dish to the oven.Broil uncovered on excessive for a further 2-3 minutes, or till the cheese is melted and golden.Take away from the oven and let the dish cool barely. Garnish with contemporary basil if desired. Serve heat and revel in!
- If utilizing oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, pat them dry totally to keep away from extra oiliness within the dish.
- For a extra conventional taste, you’ll be able to substitute heavy cream for the coconut milk in equal portions. The bake shall be equally creamy and scrumptious.
- When you want a light dish, skip the pink pepper flakes. For a bit extra warmth, improve to ½ teaspoon.
- Select pasta shapes like penne or fusilli, which maintain up nicely throughout baking and take up the flavors of the sauce superbly.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the hen is cooked to 165°F. This prevents it from drying out. Checking it across the 35-minute mark is vital.
Energy: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 21g | Fats: 18g | Saturated Fats: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 9g | Trans Fats: 0.01g | Ldl cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 954mg | Potassium: 629mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 805IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 215mg | Iron: 2mg
Servings: 6 servings
Energy: 387kcal
