Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake (one pan dinner)

caitlinbrae — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 21:26:31 +0000

This chicken pesto pasta bake is made in one pan and is loaded with chicken, sun dried tomatoes, cheese, pesto and pasta. It is a comforting meal that can be enjoyed by everyone! With a few simple preparation steps and 45 minutes of baking time you can whip up this pesto pasta bake.

Chicken pesto pasta bake

This pesto pasta bake is an easy one pan dinner. All you need to do is take a few minutes to prepare all the ingredients, add everything to the pan, and bake! What’s great about this chicken pesto pasta is it’s so versatile. Don’t have time to make homemade pesto? No problem, you can use store bought. If you don’t like sun dried tomatoes, no problem! Use grape tomatoes or marinated tomatoes. The options are endless! Keep reading to find all the details.

Why you’ll love this pesto pasta bake

This recipe is made in one large casserole dish.

Chicken pesto pasta is packed with 32 grams of protein per serving.

It is loaded with so many different flavors.

You can use gluten free pasta to make this dish gluten and grain free.

This recipe uses a homemade pesto but, you can use store bought as well.

Homemade pesto ingredients

Homemade pesto is relatively easy to make. All you need is simple ingredients and a food processor to blend everything together. Here are the ingredients in this homemade pesto:

Fresh basil is key for any pesto. You can also substitute in a little bit of fresh spinach if you don’t have enough basil leaves.

Olive oil, or avocado oil! Oil helps create the pesto and blend everything together.

Pine nuts are another key addition to pesto. However, if you are running low on pine nuts you can substitute in walnuts.

Parmesan cheese to add flavor. You can use freshly shredded or grated parmesan cheese.

White wine vinegar adds flavor and a little zing to the pesto. You can also use red wine vinegar.

Fresh garlic cloves are a must! This recipe uses three cloves of garlic.

Lemon juice helps to increase the flavors and also adds a little punch!

Salt and pepper to taste or one teaspoon of each.

Chicken pesto pasta ingredients

Along with the homemade pesto, we will need the below ingredients to complete the chicken pesto pasta.

Whole wheat pasta, or any pasta of your choice. I like using whole wheat rotini or penne. However, you can use any pasta you like; regular pasta or chickpea pasta are both great options.

Two cups of chicken broth helps to cook the pasta while it’s baking. You can also use vegetable broth!

Sun dried tomatoes add so much flavor and texture. Make sure to get sun dried tomatoes in Italian herb oil. If you don’t like sun dried tomatoes, you can also use grape tomatoes.

Mozzarella pearls for cheesy goodness. Mini mozzarella pearl balls work best! You can also just use extra shredded mozzarella cheese.

Shredded mozzarella for topping! This recipe calls for two cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.

Lastly, chicken breast + plus seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning). You can also use chicken thighs or chicken tenders.

How to make

Here’s how to make this chicken pesto pasta bake. It only requires five simple steps and 45 minutes of baking time.

STEP 1

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and grease a large 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.

STEP 2

Make the pesto. Add all the pesto ingredients to a food processor or a high speed blender. Pulse until smooth and it reaches a consistency of your liking. It usually takes about 30 seconds to 1 minute depending on the power or speed of your machine.

STEP 3

Add the dried pasta, pesto, chicken broth, sun dried tomatoes plus oil and mozzarella pearls to the dish. Gently combine the ingredients together and then top it with the shredded mozzarella.

STEP 4

Dice the chicken into small pieces and coat it with the suggested seasonings. Place the diced chicken on top of the shredded mozzarella cheese layer. Lightly push it into the cheese and pasta but still having it remain on top.

STEP 5

Bake at 400 for 45 minutes. Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

What type of pasta can I use?

This recipe calls for 12 oz pasta (which is typically 3/4 of a box of pasta). You can use any pasta you like! I typically use whole wheat pasta but feel free to use regular pasta as well.

Can I use store bough pesto instead?

Yes! This homemade pesto yields about 1 cup of pesto so make sure you use around the same amount.

What type of chicken can I use?

Any chicken will do! I have made this recipe with chicken thighs and chicken breast. You can use either! You can also use chicken tenders.

How to store

This pesto bake is great to make ahead of time. Simply follow the instructions all the way through step five. Bake the dish and let it cool completely. Once the dish has cooled, cover it with foil or plastic wrap and store it in the fridge.

Also, you can separate this dish into five containers and use it for lunch or dinner during the week. Simply store each serving in an individual container. Reheat in the microwave until warmed to your liking.

Other recipes you’ll love

Here are some other lunch and dinner recipes you’ll love.

One Pot Mac and Cheese

Chicken Tortellini Soup

Gnocchi Sausage Soup

Hamburger Pasta

Greek Chicken Meatballs with Lemon Orzo

Easy Meatball Recipe

Did you make this pesto pasta bake?

If you give this pesto pasta a try, then please don’t forget to rate this recipe or leave a comment down below! Your feedback is super helpful to me and to other readers thinking about making this recipe. For some more recipe inspiration, you can also find and follow me on Instagram and Pinterest!