Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe For Beginners!
You’re going to love this creamy, cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake!
Made with tender chunks of chicken, a simple homemade tomato-cream sauce, and plenty of melty cheese, this recipe is pure comfort food. Perfect for family dinners and easy to prep ahead!
Why We Love This Recipe
This Chicken Pasta Bake is:
- Creamy and comforting – The combo of mozzarella and cheddar gives it a deliciously gooey finish!
- Simple ingredients, big flavor – Just pantry staples like garlic, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning.
- Perfect for leftovers – It reheats beautifully for lunch the next day.
- Customizable – Swap in any cheese or pasta you like, and you’ve got a dinner win.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you need to create this cheesy masterpiece.
- 12oz (about 350g) Pasta of your choice (fusilli works great!)
- 4 chicken breasts, cubed
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 tsp crushed garlic
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 can (14oz/400g) chopped or diced tomatoes
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
For the Seasoning:
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions: Step-by-Step!
This recipe comes together in a few simple steps. Just follow along!
Step 1: First things first, get a pot of heavily salted water boiling and cook your pasta according to the package directions.
Step 2: While the pasta is cooking, place a large, oven-safe pot or Dutch oven on the stove over medium heat.
Add the butter and let it melt, then toss in your chopped onions. Sauté them until they become soft and translucent.
Step 3: Now it’s time to build the flavor base. Add the crushed garlic, salt, pepper, chili flakes, and Italian seasoning to the pot with the onions. Stir everything together and cook for about a minute until it’s wonderfully fragrant.
Step 4: Add the cubed chicken to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it’s lightly browned on all sides.
Next, sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of flour over the chicken and stir until it’s fully coated. This is what will help thicken our sauce beautifully.
Step 5: Mix in the tomato paste, followed by the can of chopped tomatoes. Give it a good stir.
Now, slowly pour in the 2 cups of milk while stirring continuously. This will prevent lumps and create a silky-smooth sauce.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 5-10 minutes, allowing it to thicken and the chicken to cook through.
Step 6: By now, your pasta should be cooked. Drain it and add it directly to the pot with the creamy chicken sauce.
Add about half of your mozzarella and cheddar cheese mix into the pot and stir everything together until the pasta is coated and the cheese is starting to melt.
Smooth out the top of the pasta. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the entire dish.
Step 6: Place the pot in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) and bake for 10-15 minutes. You’re looking for the cheese to be completely melted, bubbly, and beautifully golden-brown on top.
Carefully remove the pot from the oven. For a final touch of color and freshness, sprinkle the freshly chopped parsley over the top.
I Hope You Like It!
And that’s all there is to it! A ridiculously delicious, comforting, and cheesy meal made with minimal cleanup.
This one-pot Chicken Pasta Bake is sure to become a staple in your dinner rotation, saving you time without ever skimping on flavor.
It’s proof that you don’t need a sink full of dishes to create a meal the whole family will love. I hope you enjoy every single bite. If you tried this recipe, let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
