Description
Chicken casserole from Italy delivers a hearty, comforting meal that brings warmth to your dinner table. Creamy pasta, tender chicken, and melted cheese combine for a satisfying dinner your family will absolutely adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1 pound bow tie pasta
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup milk
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Melt ¼ cup butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté 1 cup chopped onion and 2 teaspoons minced garlic until onions soften, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup flour into the skillet. Stir constantly for 2 minutes to create a roux that will thicken your sauce.
- Gradually pour 1 cup milk into the skillet. Add two 14.5-ounce cans of diced tomatoes and one 15-ounce can tomato sauce. Simmer for 5-6 minutes until sauce slightly thickens.
- Fold 3 cups chopped cooked chicken into the sauce. Mix in 3 cups mozzarella cheese, 1½ teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon sugar.
- Stir in 1 pound cooked bow tie pasta until evenly coated with sauce and chicken.
- Transfer mixture to a nonstick-sprayed casserole dish. Scatter remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese across the top.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until cheese melts and turns lightly golden brown.
Notes
- Always use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F for safe eating.
- Shredding rotisserie chicken saves time and adds extra flavor to this casserole.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time to make assembly faster and smoother during busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 485 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg