Baked Tortellini

I love homemade.  Everything homemade is ideal.  Who lives in a perfect ideal?  Who would want to?  Perfect ideal would be boring.  But sometimes dinner suffers somewhere in there.  Using these high quality, prepackaged and fresh ingredients make this a great alternative to making homemade tortellini on the fly.
I don't know if I will ever have enough time to make homemade tortellini!  I'm willing to admit that is something I will never make from scratch.  I will accept defeat for that, but who knows!  So maybe there should not be a white flag waving just yet.
This is an easy, healthy, delicious weeknight meal.  This comes together fast all in one dish.   Perfect for those busy nights in the middle of the week like tonight!

Spread. Layer. Sprinkle. Repeat. Eat!

Baked Tortellini
Print recipe here

2 - 20 oz. bags fresh or frozen tortellini

2 jars your favorite organic Tomato Basil pasta sauce (like Muir Glen or Newman's)

1 - 5 oz. package fresh spinach*

10 - pieces frozen breaded chicken tenders

1/2 C Parmesan cheese, shredded

1 C Mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 3 Qt casserole or glass dish with olive oil.
2. Spread 1 1/2 C pasta sauce (half of a jar) on bottom of the dish, lay 1/2 of spinach* down and pour 1 bag of tortellini.  Note: You can always sub for stuffed shells and ravioli too.

3. Spread 1 1/2 C pasta sauce, rest of spinach*, last bag of tortellini and another 1 1/2 C pasta sauce.

4. Place chicken tenders over top, sprinkle with Parmesan, pour last of pasta sauce over chicken and Parmesan.

5. Layer Mozzarella cheese, sprinkle Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.

5. Bake for 45-60 minutes until cheese has turned golden and bubbly.

* Kitchen Technique #5- Spinach cooks down much more than you think it will. Even though it looks like a lot piled high now, it will not be when you take it out of the oven.

You know it is a winner when you hear "More please!"  Dish up, this dinner is loaded with protein, calcium, lutein, lycopene, Vitamin A & C, folic acid, omega 3's and much more.

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Today's recipes where brought to you by, inspired or adapted from: Me! Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer.