Creamy Spinach Penne Pasta

Total Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup penne rigate, whole wheat, raw
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 300 g boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
• 1 medium red pepper, sliced
• 1 medium orange bell pepper, sliced
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup medium cheddar, 19% mf, shredded

Recipe

• 1 in large pot of boiling water, cook pasta until tender, but firm; drain.
• 2 as pasta is cooking, heat 1 teaspoons oil in a skillet. add chicken and sauté 3-4 minutes or until almost cooked. add red and orange peppers and spinach; sauté for another 3-4 minutes.
• 3 stir in lemon juice. transfer mixture to a bowl and set aside.
• 4 in the same pot used for pasta, heat remaining oil (2 tsp.) over medium heat; blend in flour. add garlic, milk and pepper. cook, whisking constantly until mixture comes to a boil. reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
• 5 remove from heat. add cheese and stir until blended.
• 6 add pasta, chicken and vegetables to sauce; stir until combined.