Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake: 6 Ingredients for Easy Dinners
A quick and easy chicken pesto pasta bake recipe with creamy pesto sauce, tender chicken, and melted cheese. Perfect for family dinners or any occasion!
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta"
- "2 cups cooked chicken shredded or cubed",
- "1/2 cup basil pesto"
- "1/2 cup heavy cream"
- "1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided",
- "1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese"
- "1 cup cherry tomatoes halved",
- "1/4 teaspoon garlic powder"
- "Salt to taste"
- "Pepper to taste"
- "Fresh basil leaves for garnish optional",
- "1 cup spinach or kale optional",
- "1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional",
- "1/2 cup mushrooms sautéed (optional)"
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Boil penne in salted water until al dente (1-2 minutes less than package instructions). Drain and set aside
- In a large bowl, combine pesto, heavy cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
- Add cooked pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, and half of the mozzarella to the pesto-cream mixture. Stir well.
- Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and all of the Parmesan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly with golden edges. Cover with foil if browning too fast.
- Cool for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired, and serve hot.