Creamy Rigatoni with Pork and Spinach
Baking pasta is one way to make a big meal with little effort. This recipe gets a boost of vegetables from added spinach and has a creamy consistency thanks to a little cream cheese.
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Serves8 (1 cup each)
SWAP ScoreWhat's this?
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground pork
- 2 cups onion, finely chopped about 1 large or 2 medium
- 1 14.5-ounce can low-sodium diced tomatoes, undrained (pinto, kidney, red, or black)
- 1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 4 ounces low fat cream cheese
- 8 ounces mozzarella, shredded, part skim
- 3 cups rigatoni, cooked al dente or other short pasta shape like penne or elbows
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease 13" x 9" baking dish.
- Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add pork and onion and cook 6-8 minutes until cooked through, stirring occasionally. Drain fat.
- Stir in tomatoes, spinach, cream cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella. Mix well.
- Add pasta and toss to combine. Pour into prepared baking dish.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese and return to the oven.
- Bake another 10 minutes until bubbly. Serve warm.
Recipe Tips
Use ground beef, turkey, or chicken in place of ground pork.
Use any type of pasta. The shorter noodles work best, such as ziti, rotini, or macaroni.
Add spices for added flavor such as 1 teaspoon Italian spices, 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Add these with the pork and onion.
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Rigatoni with Pork and Spinach
Amount Per Serving
Calories 299
Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g
17%
Saturated Fat 6g
30%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 60mg
20%
Sodium 381mg
16%
Potassium 617mg
18%
Total Carbohydrates 26g
9%
Dietary Fiber 4g
16%
Sugars 7g
Protein 26g
52%
Vitamin A
98%
Vitamin C
18%
Vitamin D0%
Calcium
27%
Iron
12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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