Easy Chicken Florentine with Spaghetti (pg. 187)

Quick stats:

Prep time = 10 minutes
Cook time = 35 minutes
Serves 4
PointsPlus = 11 PointsPlus (12 PointsPlus if using part-skim mozzarella cheese)
Serving:  1/4 of casserole and 1/2 cup pasta

This recipe calls for chicken to be cooked on a bed of cooked spinach.  At first, I was skeptical, but this dish made it on my top 10 list of meals that I could eat every day.  Loved the cheese on top.  Quick confession... I cannot eat fat free cheese.  I used the part-skim variety.  My version is higher in points, but the cheese actually melts.

I also discovered the joy of Oscar Meyer pre-cooked bacon.  My family does not eat much bacon, so if I cook a lot of it, it often goes bad.  The pre-cooked bacon is heated in the microwave at however many slices you want, then 20-25 seconds later there is crisp, tasty bacon.

The blend of the flavors in this dish made my taste buds dance.

Recipe:
2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 (10 oz) packages frozen leaf spinach, thawed
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 (5 oz) skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 cup shredded fat-free (or part skim) mozzarella cheese
2T grated Parmesan cheese
4 oz whole-wheat spaghetti
2 slices bacon, crisp cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup fat-free marinara sauce, heated

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  
• Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the spinach, 1/4 tsp of the salt, and the pepper to the skillet.  
• Cook until most of the liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes longer. 
• Spoon the spinach mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
• Wipe out the skillet.  Add the remaining 1 tsp oil to the skillet and set over high heat.
• Sprinkle the chicken with the remaining 1/4 tsp salt.  
• Place the chicken in the skillet and cook just until browned, about 2 minutes on each side.
• Arrange the chicken over the spinach mixture in one layer; sprinkle evenly with the mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Bake until the cheeses are melted and the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle with the bacon.
• Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to the package directions, omitting the salt if desired.
• Drain.  Toss together the spaghetti and marinara sauce.
• Serve with the chicken.