Whenever I can’t figure out what to have for dinner, I turn to this chicken pasta bake. It’s filling, it’s hearty, it comes together quickly, and everybody loves it. Did somebody say winner, winner, chicken dinner? 😆 Plus, it’s so easy to make variations of this recipe that even if I don’t have the exact ingredients, I can still use it as a guide to make something similar but just as delicious. See? It really is a midweek lifesaver. 😅
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Chicken Pasta Bake
Saute the Chicken
Pasta – Cook your choice of pasta per package instructions. (Photo 1) Season the chicken with salt and pepper, followed by salt-free Cajun or Creole seasoning. Stir until thoroughly mixed. (Photos 2-3) Saute Chicken – Next, heat oil in a large skillet and stir in the chicken, cooking for 3-5 minutes or until slightly browned. (Photo 4) Add Seasonings – Then, add minced garlic, stirring for about a minute, followed by chopped onion and thyme. Cook everything until the onions wilt – about 4 more minutes. Then remove all ingredients from the pan and set them aside. (Photos 5-6)
Make the Sauce
The Roux – Add butter to the same pan, and whisk in flour as soon as it melts. Continue whisking until flour is fully combined with butter, then continue cooking for about a minute. (Photos 7-8) Sauce Base – Next, add the chicken broth, a little at a time, followed by the milk, stirring continuously. (Photos 9-10) Simmer – Turn the heat down to medium so it simmers gently and slightly thickens into a creamy sauce—it should take 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (Photo 11) Assemble – Finally, turn off the heat and stir in the pasta, broccoli, and about ¾ cup of cheese, along with the chicken mixture and Creole seasoning. Give it a taste and adjust seasonings to your preference. (Photo 12-13)
Bake the Chicken Pasta
Transfer the pan’s contents to a casserole dish. (Photo 14) Cheese – Then, top it with the remaining cheese. (Photo 15) Bake, uncovered, at 350°F/177℃ for 15 minutes or until heated through. (Photo 16) Serve warm, garnished with parsley, if desired.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Follow the recipe and assemble the ingredients in the casserole dish as per the recipe. Then, instead of baking, cover the dish with foil and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When meal time approaches, get it out, let it come to room temperature for 20 minutes, and then bake as instructed. You can also freeze this dish. To do so, cover it tightly with aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve this casserole hot out of the oven. If you have leftovers, they’ll last in the fridge for 3-5 days. To reheat this casserole, the microwave works great for individual portions. But the oven is better if you want to reheat the whole casserole dish. Just bake it at 300℉/150℃ for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
What Goes With Chicken Pasta Bake
I round out this meal with two classic side dishes my whole family loves: Caesar salad and homemade garlic bread. This meal is always a hit! If you really want to spoil your friends and family. Serve them some homemade sweet tea along with their meal. And complete your evening with a slice of buttermilk pound cake if you really want to impress. 😉
More Quick Dinner Recipes to Try
Conclusion
I hope this quick-and-easy chicken dinner recipe is as much of a lifesaver for you as it is for me! Already tried it? Let me know what you think in the comments. Your feedback is so important to me! 😘 This blog post was originally published in November 2019 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
