Cheesy Pesto and Chicken Pasta Bake in 30 Minutes!
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Cheesy Pesto and Chicken Pasta Bake in 30 minutes is loaded with pre-cooked chicken, cheese, tomato sauce.
Cheesy Pesto and Chicken Pasta Bake
Baked ziti is one of my all time favorite dishes, if not THE favorite. It makes me think of special occasions growing up and has become my comfort food extraordinaire. I love to take the classic baked ziti and twist it up. With cravings for comfort food and a garden full of basil, there was only one thing to do.
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Other Easy Chicken Recipes
30 Minute Cheesy Pesto Pasta Bake with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried ziti or penne pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 cup milk
- 8 ounces pesto, If using store bought pesto, start with 4 oz and add a little at a time, to taste
- 8 ounces shredded Italian cheese blend, (mozzarella, provolone, romano, fontina, asiago, and parmesan) start with 4 oz and add a little at a time, to taste
- 12 ounces precooked chicken, diced
- 8 ounces tomato sauce, or favorite pasta sauce
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 5 ounces fresh Parmesan cheese, (start with 4 ounces and add a little at a time, to taste), grated, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a handful of salt. Cook pasta to al dente; meaning it still has a little bite to it. Al dente pasta absorbs sauce better while it cooks and this is going into the oven.
- Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pan (about 4 quarts) over medium heat, melt butter, add flour and whisk for 2 to 3 minutes to cook out the “flour-y” taste. Add milk whisk to combine. Add pesto and whisk together. Once combined add Italian cheese and ½ of Parmesan cheese. Stir with a spoon to combine. Allow to simmer until pasta is cooked.
- Add chicken to the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and pour pesto cheese sauce over top. Add pasta. Stir to combine and mix well. Smooth pasta with a spoon and pour tomato sauce over top. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese and remaining parmesan cheese on the top.
- Place baking dish on a cookie sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
cheesy pesto? Awesome. I like this idea alot I am going to use it on more than just pasta:) like everything
The cold temps last week finished off my basil 🙁
I just made the cheesy pesto chicken pasta and it was AMAZING! Way better than Olive Garden! My husband's new favorite:) Thanks for sharing!!
I just made the cheesy pesto chicken pasta and it was AMAZING! Seriously this was way better than Olive Garden and it's my husband new favorite dinner:) Thanks for sharing!!
I have made this several times, and all I can say is wow! This is on our weekly menu and we all can't wait to eat it every week!
Pasta bakes are usually very dry and not worth the time. This one however was so good that it is on our weekly rotation!