Description
Creamy pesto chicken pasta bake brings comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and herbal pesto blend together for a satisfying meal your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
Pasta and Cheese:
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup prepared pesto
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a skillet set over medium-high heat until the surface shimmers with warmth.
- Dice 1 pound chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drop chicken pieces into hot skillet.
- Sauté chicken for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Boil 8 ounces penne pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
- Drain pasta thoroughly and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add seared chicken pieces.
- Pour 1 cup prepared pesto and ½ cup heavy cream over pasta and chicken. Gently toss to ensure complete coating.
- Sprinkle ½ cup shredded mozzarella and ¼ cup Parmesan into the mixture, stirring to distribute evenly.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and transfer pasta mixture into it.
- Top the casserole with remaining ½ cup mozzarella and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
- Slide dish into a preheated 375°F oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set.
Notes
- Fresh basil transforms this dish, so grab the brightest leaves from your local market for maximum flavor.
- Homemade pesto works wonderfully, but quality store-bought versions save time without sacrificing taste.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and use grilled chicken breast instead of pan-seared.
- Let the pasta bake rest 5 minutes after removing from the oven to help the cheesy sauce set and make serving easier.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 21-28 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 592 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 545 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg