Instead of creamy, this chicken pasta bake is made with tomato pasta sauce, which is a nice change. 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 dry pasta bake!.
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).
If that sounds good to you, keep reading to learn how to make your new favorite chicken pasta bake!
Chicken and pasta are two incredibly versatile ingredients that pair perfectly together. With just chicken and pasta, you can whip up so many quick easy and delicious one-pot meals for dinner. From creamy, cheesy bakes to light and fresh tossed salads, the possibilities are endless.
These are 25 great chicken and pasta recipes that you can use for your next meal. We have something for everyone, whether you want something rich and comforting or light and good for you. Keep reading for plenty of weeknight dinner inspiration!.
Quick and Easy Chicken Pasta for Busy Nights
When time is short and you need dinner on the table fast, these speedy chicken pasta recipes will be your new go-to. You can have them ready start to finish in 30 minutes or less
Greek Chicken Pasta
This Mediterranean-inspired dish features chicken, penne, olives, tomatoes, spinach, and feta cheese tossed in a quick lemon and garlic sauce. It’s fresh, flavorful, and couldn’t be easier to whip up.
Pesto Pasta with Chicken
For a super quick pasta, simply toss cooked chicken and pasta in pesto sauce. Add cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, and basil for extra flavor. You can even use store-bought pesto to cut down on prep time.
Garlic Chicken with Orzo Noodles
With garlic, olive oil, and orzo, sautéed chicken cooks right in the pan. People in your family will want this quick one-pot meal over and over again. Just add chicken broth, lemon juice, and Parmesan.
Lemon Pasta with Chicken
This lemony pasta couldn’t be faster to prepare. While fettuccine noodles boil, you’ll quickly sauté chicken in a lemon garlic butter sauce. Toss everything together for a bright, refreshing pasta perfect for spring and summer.
Comforting Chicken Pasta Bakes and Casseroles
This chicken pasta bakes and casseroles are great when you want something warm, cheesy, and very filling. They’re total crowd-pleasers.
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Penne gets tossed with spicy Cajun-seasoned chicken, bell peppers, creamy Alfredo sauce, and green onions. It’s like a chicken fettuccine Alfredo with a kick!
Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
This simple bake has penne, chicken, and broccoli covered in a sauce made of cream of chicken soup, cheese, milk, and seasonings. For a crispy top, sprinkle Parmesan or breadcrumbs on top before baking.
Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake
Get the flavors of chicken Parmesan in easy pasta bake form. Chicken, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and penne pasta bake together into a hearty, saucy casserole.
Chicken Florentine Pasta
This cheesy baked pasta features a creamy spinach and chicken filling stuffed inside jumbo pasta shells. It’s kind of like chicken Alfredo meets stuffed shells.
Fresh Chicken Pasta Salads
When the weather heats up, cool down with these fresh chicken pasta salads. They make fantastic make-ahead lunches or potluck and BBQ sides.
Poppy Seed Chicken Pasta Salad
Bowtie pasta, chicken, celery, green onions, and shredded cheddar get tossed in a sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing for an easy pasta salad brimming with texture and flavor.
Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad
Rotini, chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, avocado and pesto dressing come together for a protein-packed pasta salad that’s great for meal prepping. The pesto adds so much flavor.
Greek Chicken Pasta Salad
Penne pasta, chicken, cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, onions, and feta cheese get tossed in a Greek dressing for a fresh take on chicken salad. It has all the bright, robust flavors of Greek salad in pasta form.
Saucy Chicken Pasta Dinners
From tomato cream sauces to buttery garlic sauces, these saucy chicken pasta recipes are big on flavor. They’re sure to satisfy any pasta craving.
Chicken Milano
Chicken cutlets cook in a pan of tomatoes, garlic, basil, and white wine, creating an incredibly flavorful sauce that coats the pasta. It’s like chicken Parmesan’s saucy cousin.
Garlic Wine Chicken
Chicken thighs simmer in a sauce of garlic, parsley, white wine, chicken broth, and capers for a dish that’s packed with flavor. Serve it over angel hair pasta or zoodles.
Penne with Chicken and Pesto
Penne pasta and chicken sauté together in olive oil, then get tossed with pesto sauce and Parmesan. The pesto adds so much herby flavor and creaminess.
Chicken Scampi
Juicy shrimp may be the star of classic scampi, but this chicken version is just as tasty. Chicken sautés in garlic, butter, wine, and lemon for a bright, lemony garlic sauce that coats the linguine.
Worldly Chicken Pasta Recipes
Take your pasta dinner around the world with Mexican quesadillas, Italian chicken Parmesan, and more globally-inspired recipes.
Chicken Fajita Pasta Bake
Chicken fajitas meet cheesy pasta bake in this flavor-packed dish. Seasoned chicken, peppers, onions, jalapeños, beans, and cheddar all bake together into Mexican pasta perfection.
Chicken Parmesan
Breaded chicken cutlets bake with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese for a quick, 20-minute take on classic chicken Parmesan. Serve over pasta for an easy Italian-inspired dinner.
Butter Chicken Pasta
Butter chicken sauce infused with aromatic Indian spices envelops pasta and chicken for an unexpected – but amazing – fusion dish. It’s an exotic twist on creamy pasta.
Chicken Yakisoba
Yakisoba is a classic Japanese stir-fried noodle dish, and this recipe subs chicken for the traditional pork. Sautéed veggies, chicken, and ramen noodles wok together for an easy noodle bowl.
Tips for Making Chicken Pasta
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Allow about 4 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breast per person. For bone-in chicken, allow 6 to 8 ounces per person.
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Undercook the pasta by 2 minutes before adding it to a pasta salad. The pasta will continue to cook in the dressing.
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For casseroles and pasta bakes, underbake them slightly. The pasta will continue cooking as it sets.
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Boil pasta in salted water for best flavor. Use about 1 tablespoon salt per 6 cups water.
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Reserve about 1 cup pasta water before draining. The starchy liquid adds body when tossed with sauces.
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Cook chicken fully to 165°F. Cut into a piece to check for doneness. Juices should run clear.
With so many ways to mix and match chicken and pasta, you could eat something different every night of the week and still not run out of recipes. From super fast weeknight pastas to cheesy casseroles to fresh pasta salads, these chicken and pasta recipes offer endless inspiration for easy, delicious dinners.
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How to make chicken pasta bake
There’s a time and a place for quick, low-effort one-pot pasta bakes. Then there’s all those times when you want a really good 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.
Today is one of those days!
Tomato pasta sauce for the 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:
- Type of pasta: I like how weighty rigatoni is; it makes pasta bakes feel extra cozy and satisfying. You can, however, use other short pastas like shells, macaroni, penne, ziti, etc.
- Tomato passata: This is a thick, smooth sauce that tastes and looks more like tomato. Instead of crushed or diced tomato, use passata. Pureed plain tomato is all it is. You can find it in Australia near the pasta or canned tomato aisle, and it costs about the same as canned tomato. More on passata here.
- Tomato paste – for sauce thickening and extra tomato flavour.
- Garlic and onion – essential flavour base!
- Oregano – for earthy flavour.
- Red pepper or chili flakes—to add a buzz of heat!
- Wine is the secret ingredient! It was quickly simmered to get rid of the alcohol and winey taste, leaving only a tasty tone. While sauvignon blanc and other white wines are good for cooking, chardonnay is my favorite because it adds more flavor. Substitute with low sodium chicken stock/broth.
30 Minute Rose Chicken Breast Pasta
FAQ
What dishes can I make with chicken and pasta?
Chicken pasta recipesChicken pasta bake. A star rating of 4. 6 out of 5. Chicken, squash & pesto lasagne. A star rating of 4. 9 out of 5. Chicken & chorizo ragu. Chicken & bacon pasta. Chicken, spinach & bacon alfredo pasta bake. Creamy spinach, basil & chicken pasta. Chicken sausage pasta. Creamy chicken pasta.
What to serve with chicken pasta bake for dinner?
- Honey Glazed Roast Carrots.
- Roasted Pumpkin, Brussels Sprouts and Prosciutto with Egg.
- Potato Wedges.
- Italian-Roasted Vegetables.
- Bacon, Peas and Mushrooms.
What can I make along with pasta?
Get the Parmesan Roasted Green Beans recipe. Green Beans Almondine. PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON. Halloumi Salad. ANDREW BUI. Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples. Ratatouille. Focaccia Bread. Green Bean Salad. Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Melting Potatoes.
Can you serve chicken with pasta?
PARMESAN PASTA WITH CHICKEN AND PEAS Fact: Pasta and peas are a winning combination. It’s easy to make a quick dinner that everyone will enjoy. Just mix together a pound of Barilla Farfalle, 2 cups of diced grilled chicken, 2 cups of peas, 4 tablespoons of butter, and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.