Few dishes can rival a warm, cheesy chicken pasta bake as comfort food. This filling dinner is not only great but also quite simple to make, hence it’s a go-to dish for hectic week evenings. This meal is guaranteed to become a family favourite with delicate chicken, pasta, a creamy sauce topped with bubbling cheese.
Why Choose Bake Chicken Pasta?
The height of taste and convenience is chicken pasta bake. It makes one filling meal that suits adults and children equally by combining veggies, carbohydrates, and proteins. The greatest thing is Customizing it with your preferred ingredients will help you to readily fit several dietary requirements.
Ingredients You Will Require
Making this cheesy chicken pasta bake calls for:
- Two cups cooked pasta—penne or rotini go very well.
- Two cups shredded cooked chicken—rotisserie chicken saves time.
- One cup marinara sauce, alternatively your preferred spaghetti sauce
- One cup heavy cream (for creaminess; if you would want anything non-dairy, substitute here.)
- One teaspoon ground garlic powder
- One teaspoon of dried Italian herbs—oregano, basil, thyme.
- Taste salt and pepper instead.
- One cup chopped mozzarella cheese
- half-cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish.
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Turn on the oven preheat. First, let your oven run 350°F (175°C). This guarantees homogeneous cooking of your pasta bake.
- Prepare the Pasta: Get the pasta ready. Cook your pasta till al dente per package directions. empty and save.
- Mix the Ingredients: Toss in a large mixing bowl the cooked pasta, shredded chicken, marinara sauce, heavy cream, garlic powder, dried herbs, salt, and pepper.Stirring thoroughly will help all components to be equally covered.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Spoon mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been buttered. To guarantee even cooking, spread it out fairly.
- Add Cheese Topping: Over the top of the spaghetti mixture, liberally scatter the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese topping. This will produce a quite wonderful cheesy crust.
- Bake: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for roughly 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbled and the sides are just slightly brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven once done and let it cool for a few minutes. garnish before serving fresh parsley.
Tips for the Perfect Chicken Pasta Bake
- Customize Your Ingredients: Sort Your Ingredients Customarily For extra nutrition and taste, feel free to toss mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach. For a stronger taste, saut the vegetables before combining them into the pasta bake.
- Make It Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or a bit of hot sauce to the sauce mixture if you like some spice.
- Prepare Ahead of Time: Meal prep calls for this recipe, which is ideal for ahead of time preparation. The pasta bake can be assembled ahead of time, carefully covered with foil, and refrigerated till just ready for baking. If the baking comes directly from the refrigerator, just add a few more minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Though it’s a complete meal on its own, chicken pasta bake tastes great with a side salad or garlicky bread for a more filling dinner. For a laid-back evening in, you may also present it with a glass of red wine. Leftovers reheat wonderfully, hence this recipe is a great choice for quick lunches or dinner preparation all around the week.
Final Thought
The ideal fusion of taste, ease, and comfort is cheesy chicken pasta bake. Your family and friends will love this meal with its gooey cheese, succulent chicken, and creamy sauce. This dish has you covered whether your dinner is for a gathering or just a quick night-meal. So gather your supplies and let’s begin cooking!
