Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake (Printable Version)

Tender chicken, vibrant basil pesto, and gooey mozzarella baked to golden perfection for a comforting family meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 medium chicken breasts (about 12 oz), diced

→ Pesto & Sauce

03 - 0.5 cup basil pesto, store-bought or homemade
04 - 1.25 cups tomato passata or marinara sauce
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Cheese

07 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Seasoning

09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
10 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish, optional

# Steps:

01 - Set oven to 390°F and allow to fully preheat.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until cooked through and lightly golden.
04 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Stir in tomato passata and half of the pesto. Simmer for 2-3 minutes then remove from heat.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken mixture, half of the mozzarella, and remaining pesto. Stir gently until evenly mixed.
06 - Transfer mixture to a lightly greased baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
07 - Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and golden and sauce is bubbling.
08 - Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • The way the pesto and tomato sauce meld together creates this incredible depth that tastes like you spent hours simmering
  • Its one of those rare comfort foods that feels fancy enough for company but casual enough for Tuesday night leftovers
02 -
  • Undercook your pasta by about two minutes because it will continue cooking in the oven and you want it perfectly tender not falling apart
  • Reserve a splash of pasta water before draining because sometimes the sauce needs that little bit of starchy liquid to coat everything evenly
03 -
  • Spraying your baking dish with olive oil instead of butter prevents any sticking and adds a subtle flavor boost
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly, so take your sauce and cheese out while the water boils
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