Hen Pasta Casserole | Diethood

This simple rooster pasta casserole is a satisfying dinner recipe full of colourful greens, juicy rooster, and wealthy, tacky layers of penne. 

Who’s hungry? This creamy, tacky weeknight rooster pasta casserole is the right household dinner with leftovers to spare. Juicy rooster items mixed with tender veggies, candy cherry tomatoes, and penne come collectively in a wealthy and creamy baked pasta that’s assured to be a brand new favourite!

My daughter Aleksandra completely loves this pasta bake. It’s her go-to consolation meals after a busy day of faculty and dance follow. Watching her take pleasure in each chunk makes it much more particular for me!

Why We Love This Pasta Casserole

Filled with shade and taste. This baked penne pasta is full of contemporary and colourful greens and juicy rooster, cooked in a flavorful cream cheese sauce with garlic and herbs.

Filter your crisper drawer. A pasta casserole recipe is tremendous versatile. It’s probably the greatest methods to make use of up the greens you will have in your fridge. This recipe makes use of carrots, mushrooms, and tomatoes, however you may change up the elements relying on what’s available. 

Make-ahead. Put together your casserole the night time earlier than, and have it wrapped and able to bake for last-minute dinners.

What You’ll Want

Try the important thing elements right here, together with some useful notes and substitutions. Bear in mind to scroll to the recipe card for the total quantities and particulars.

• Pasta – Penne is my go-to, however you may make this pasta bake with any sort of pasta you’d like (see beneath). Be happy to make use of common or whole-wheat pasta.
• Olive Oil and Butter – For sautéing. Be happy to make use of all oil or all butter should you favor.
• Hen – Skinless boneless rooster breasts or thighs, chopped into cubes earlier than you begin.
• Mushrooms – Any selection you like, equivalent to brown or white mushrooms, cremini, or portobello (or no mushrooms in any respect, should you aren’t a fan).
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic has the very best taste. You may adapt the variety of cloves to style.
• Carrot – Chopped into bite-sized rounds.
• Broth – Low-sodium vegetable broth or rooster broth.
• Seasonings – Garlic powder and Italian seasoning, to season the sauce.
• Flour – All-purpose flour helps thicken the sauce. You can even cornstarch, or arrowroot powder to make the sauce gluten-free.
• Milk and Cream Cheese – Entire or 2% milk, together with a bundle of cream cheese (you’ll wish to use the sort that is available in bricks).
• Tomatoes – I exploit cherry tomatoes. In the event you’re utilizing bigger tomatoes, cube them up first.
• Cheese – Freshly shredded mozzarella and freshly grated parmesan. You can even use one other melty cheese, like cheddar.
• Parsley – For garnish.

How one can Make This Hen Pasta Casserole

Let’s run by means of a fast step-by-step to make this tasty creamy pasta casserole with juicy rooster.

1. Prepare dinner the elements. Boil the penne pasta. In the meantime, get your rooster scorching alongside mushrooms, garlic, and carrots in a big skillet with butter and olive oil.
2. Make the sauce. Season a bowl of broth with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Whisk in flour, and pour the inventory into the skillet together with some milk. Simmer for a minute, then soften within the cream cheese. 
3. Mix. Toss the pasta within the rooster and sauce combination, and add tomatoes. Combine once more after which switch the coated pasta to a casserole dish.
4. Bake. Bake the casserole underneath foil at 350ºF for about half-hour. Afterward, take away the foil, add shredded cheese, and bake for one more 8-10 minutes uncovered.
5. Serve! Let your pasta bake stand for a bit, then plate up with a aspect of salad and dig in.

Serving Options

This rooster pasta casserole is an all-in-one meal, or you may serve it with a easy aspect of fluffy dinner rolls and crunchy kale salad for a well-rounded dinner. This gentle skillet cornbread is one other agency favourite in our home! Or, whereas the oven is sizzling, bake up a aspect of oven-roasted asparagus or crispy roasted inexperienced beans to deliver much more veggies to the meal.

Storing Leftovers and Reheating

Retailer any leftover casserole hermetic within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days, or freeze it for as much as 3 months. Defrost the pasta within the fridge earlier than reheating within the microwave or on the stovetop.

Extra Hen Pasta Recipes to Attempt