Recipes For Pasta Bake With Chicken

A nice change from the usual creamy versions, this chicken pasta bake is made with a tomato pasta sauce. Filled with bacon, sizzling seasoned chicken and generous on the cheese, it’s cosy and hearty and thrifty and just so, so delicious! Excellent complete meal for making ahead and freezing.

If you can cut a pasta bake like cake – I’m talking straight vertical walls with sharp edges – that is not a good thing. It just screams

Nope. Not in my world. Pasta bakes should be saucy and juicy, molten and oozy! Generously loaded with add-ins, if you’re going for a dinner pasta bake (as opposed to a side dish like Mac and Cheese).

Creamy Chicken And Penne Pasta Casserole Recipe

So if that sounds good to you, read on so you can see how to make your new favourite chicken pasta bake!

A good tomato-based pasta bake needs a good tomato pasta sauce! No shortcuts here – I tried and just found it too bland. So here’s what we need:

Pasta bake so you’ll do it properly. Crisp the bacon, sear the chicken, simmer the sauce, then bring it all together into one big bubbling pasta bake.

Italian Pasta Bake

The best way to make ahead is to cook the sauce and pasta separately, allow both to cool completely. Then toss together and assemble the pasta bake – including topping with cheese. Cover well with cling wrap and refrigerate 3 days or freeze up to 3 months (thaw thoroughly). Then bake covered for 20 minutes then uncovered for 20 minutes. It will take longer for the centre to get hot if you’re baking from fridge-cold but the cheese will get too brown if you leave it uncovered for this full baking time.

It is not often I get to tell you that a pasta dish is a complete meal, so let me enjoy the moment. This one’s got it all! Starch, protein and plenty of vegetables – the tomato passata (yes it’s a vegetable!), chunks of fresh tomato and a good amount of baby spinach too.

Which means – unlike most of my creamy pasta bakes – no need to make a salad for the side to round out the meal. Always a bonus when it comes to choosing what to make for dinner tonight, right?? – Nagi x

Chicken And Broccoli Pasta Bake Recipe

PS Having just made that statement, I just realised the photo above has a side salad in it. 😂 It’s the rocket salad (arugula) with balsamic dressing minus the parmesan shavings (because I figured there was enough cheese in the pasta bake!). It was already made for another recipe I was shooting so I just grabbed it as a background prop for the photo!

Recipe video above. Everything a chicken pasta bake should be – big, juicy, bubbly, cosy, with loads of extra tasty sauce, sizzling seasoned chicken, bacon and plenty of cheese. Nice change from the usual creamy pasta bakes!

This is a complete meal with starch, protein and veg so you won't need a side salad for this. Love the juicy chunks of tomato!

Ingredient Chicken Pasta Casserole

1. Chicken thighs hold up best in pasta bakes as they stay juicy through the double/triple cook. However, breast will also work though I’d cut it a little larger so it stays juicier.

2. Wine is a secret ingredient for tastier sauces – no winey flavour remaining, I promise! I like using chardonnay as it adds more flavour than neutral whites like sauvignon blanc. Sub low-sodium chicken stock/broth

3. Tomato passata – Pureed, strained pure tomatoes, sometimes labelled “tomato puree” in the US (here’s a photo of Mutti tomato passata sold at Walmart). It’s readily available in Australian supermarkets nowadays, alongside pasta sauces. Passata is excellent for making thick, smooth sauces. More on tomato passata here.

Chicken Pasta Bake (simple, Delicious Dinner)

Make-ahead –Best way is to cool down the sauce and pasta before combining. Assemble pasta bake – including topping with cheese – wrap tightly in cling wrap then fridge 3 days or freezer 3 months (thaw completely). Bake covered for 20 minutes then uncovered 20 minutes.

Nutrition per serving, assuming 6 servings. It’s a pretty hearty pasta bake thanks to all the add-ins so it should be enough for 6 standard servings.

Calories: 567 cal (28%) Carbohydrates: 23 g (8%) Protein: 38 g (76%) Fat: 35 g (54%) Saturated Fat: 14 g (88%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g Monounsaturated Fat: 13 g Trans Fat: 0.1 g Cholesterol: 141 mg (47%) Sodium: 1845 mg (80%) Potassium: 996 mg (28%) Fiber: 4 g (17%) Sugar: 9 g (10%) Vitamin A: 2291 IU (46%) Vitamin C: 24 mg (29%) Calcium: 457 mg (46%) Iron: 4 mg (22%)

Chicken Tuscan Pasta Bake

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!For those of you who subscribe, and so receive every new recipe via email (for free, no catches! See box below the About Me section on the right hand side→→→ of this page if you're interested!) my apologies because the last one was really hard to read!

I had some technical issues (not due to me thankfully!) so when my IT person - me asking Dr Google - fixed it, she obviously didn't do a very good job!

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Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake

Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake. Just as advertised, super simple creamy sauce with only 2 ingredients, then just add your bacon and ziti/penne pasta and bake this pasta casserole in the oven.

This creamy chicken pasta casserole would be perfect for those nights when you don't have a lot of time, but need something filling to feed the family.

It's a great way to use up any leftover rotisserie chicken, or in Australia what we call a BBQ Chicken - don't know why because it's not barbecued! I have also used smoked bacon, you can taste the extra flavour from the smoke through the whole dish. Yum. Plus who doesn't love a creamy pasta bake?

Baked Pasta With Chicken Sausage

About the pasta I have chosen, I have made this dish made with ziti (or penne) pasta. I have also made it with shells, and quite frankly they taste the same of course because it's all still pasta. 

The reason I only add a very small pinch of salt to the pasta water is because the bacon itself can be salty - and we all know that once you have too much salt it's hard to fix! I found that this was enough salt for me. If you think you would like to add more, I would give it a taste just before it goes into the baking dish then add it then if you would like.

*Please note that the amount of calories per serve is provided as a guide only, as ingredients and cooking methods can vary greatly*

Chicken And Pumpkin Pasta Bake Recipe