Ingredients -

👉3 cloves garlic, minced.

👉1 large leek (about 10 ounces), white and light green parts, thinly sliced.

👉 1/2 cups half-and-half.

👉1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan.

👉Pinch crushed red pepper flakes.

👉Juice of 1/2 lemon.

👉4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature.

👉1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped, plus more for garnish.

👉Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper .

For Filling -

1. One 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained.

2. 1/2 cups ricotta. cheese (about 1 pound)

3. 1 cup diced rotisserie chicken.

4. 3/4 cup shredded Italian blend cheese.

5. Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

6.Juice of 1/2 lemon

7.Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For Pasta:

👉One 8-ounce box manicotti.

👉1/2 cup shredded Italian blend cheese.

Directions -

👉Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

👉For the Alfredo sauce: Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp and brown, 7 to 8 minutes.

👉Add the garlic and leeks to the skillet.  Add the half-and-half, Parmesan, crushed red pepper and lemon juice and bring to a simmer.

Add the cream cheese and cook until the sauce is thickend and remove it from the heat, stir in the parsley and season with salt and black pepper.

👉For the filling: Add the spinach, ricotta, chicken, Italian blend cheese, crushed red pepper, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to a large bowl and mix until fully combined. Transfer the mixture to a large disposable piping bag

👉For the pasta: Spoon 1 cup of the sauce on the bottom of a flameproof  baking dish. Pipe the filling into both ends of the uncooked manicotti shells until filled and arrange them in the baking dish. Top with the remaining sauce  and Italian blend cheese.

Cover with foil and bake until the sauce is bubbly and the pasta is cooked, 30 to 40 minutes.

👉Remove the baking dish from the oven and remove the foil. Turn the oven to broil. Broil until the top is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with more chopped parsley.

Sources - foodnetwork.com

Photo Credits - https://www.budgetbytes.com/chicken-alfredo/