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Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.4 from 82 reviews
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-inspired

Description

This comforting Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake is a creamy, cheesy dish featuring tender cooked chicken, fresh baby spinach, and flavorful pesto, all baked to golden perfection. It’s a perfect family-friendly meal that combines the goodness of pasta and vegetables with savory pesto and melted cheese, ideal for weeknight dinners or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 500g bowtie pasta
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Produce

  • 100g baby spinach leaves

Protein

  • 400g cooked chicken, chopped

Dairy

  • 250ml cream for cooking
  • 1.5 cups grated cheese (100g + ½ cup reserved)

Condiments

  • 100g pesto

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 180°C on fan bake mode to prepare it for cooking the pasta bake evenly.
  2. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the bowtie pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve half a cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta thoroughly.
  3. Prepare Ingredients: Chop the cooked chicken into small, bite-sized pieces for easy mixing and eating.
  4. Combine Mixture: Using the same pot that you cooked the pasta in, add the cooking cream, baby spinach, chopped chicken, pesto, and one cup of the grated cheese. Pour in the reserved pasta water and season well with salt and pepper. Stir everything together to form a creamy, well-mixed sauce.
  5. Add Pasta: Return the drained hot pasta to the pot, mixing it thoroughly with the creamy chicken and pesto sauce to ensure even coating.
  6. Assemble and Bake: Pour the combined pasta mixture into a large baking dish, spreading it evenly to the edges. Scatter the remaining half cup of grated cheese evenly on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbly.
  7. Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately. For a more filling meal, accompany with a side salad and garlic bread if desired.

Notes

  • To freeze: Wrap the dish after sprinkling the cheese on top. To serve, defrost completely, then reheat in the oven until piping hot and bubbly.
  • Optional additions like cherry tomatoes and toasted pine nuts add extra flavor and texture to the pasta bake.

Find it online: https://oliviadinner.com/chicken-pesto-pasta-bake-recipe/