CHICKEN, SPINACH & MUSHROOM MANICOTT

Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom Manicott image

Weekend time to kill... yummy, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food! Or make-ahead on a weekend and have it ready for the week. A family pleaser!

Provided by Jennifer H @Kinepeli

Categories Chicken

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

10 - manicotti shells
- olive oil
2 tablespoon(s) butter
2 - chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cubed into very small pieces
1/2 teaspoon(s) garlic salt
1 teaspoon(s) Italian seasoning
1/2 - yellow onion, finely diced
8 ounce(s) cremini mushrooms, chopped
2 tablespoon(s) garlic, minced
5 ounce(s) fresh spinach, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
4 ounce(s) low-fat cream cheese
3/4 cup(s) fat-free sour cream
3 tablespoon(s) butter
3 tablespoon(s) flour
1 1/2 cup(s) milk
4 ounce(s) mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 ounce(s) monterey jack cheese, shredded
4 tablespoon(s) Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large pot, fill with water and cook manicotti tubes per package directions. Drain, rinse and set aside.
Swirl olive oil a few turns in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken. Sprinkle with garlic salt and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring often, until done - 7-8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Add 2 tablespoons butter and another swirl of olive oil to the skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook 5-6 minutes. Add garlic and onion and continue to cook, stirring often, for another 5-6 minutes.
Add spinach and cook until wilted, 3-4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Remove from heat and add chicken, cream cheese and sour cream. Stir until incorporated and set aside.
In another skillet, add 3 tbsp butter and melt over medium-high heat. When melted, add flour and whisk constantly, 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned.
Whisk in milk and continue cooking, whisking constantly, until thick, about 3-4 minutes. Whisk in half of mozzarella, half of Monterey jack and 2 tbsp Parmesan, and whisk until incorporated and thick. The sauce should thickly coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat.
Place some of the sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Using a spoon, fill the manicotti tubes with the spinach/chicken mixture and place in the baking dish. Continue until all tubes are filled.
Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the pasta. Cover with foil and bake for 30-45 minutes. Remove foil, top with remaining cheeses and return to oven for 15 minutes.