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๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Italian Recipes

Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake

Updated: Feb 26, 2025 ยท Published: May 13, 2010 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

This cheesy chicken pasta bake is easy to make with a simple homemade marinara sauce, tender chicken and pasta with loads of Italian spices, and melted mozzarella topped with Parmesan. Serve with crusty bread and a garden salad for a simple but delicious weeknight dinner.

๐Ÿ“Ingredients

Chicken breasts
Aromaticsโ€”garlic and onion
Tomatoesโ€”crushed, diced, and paste
Pastaโ€”ziti, penne, or other dry pasta
Cheeseโ€”mozzarella and Parmesan
Pantry Ingredientsโ€”olive oil, basil, crushed red peppers(optional), salt and black pepper

Chicken pasta bake on a plate.
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐Ÿ“Ingredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bakeโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • ๐ŸฅฃOptions and variations
  • ๐Ÿค”How to use rotisserie chicken
  • ๐Ÿค”Adding ricotta cheese
  • ๐Ÿ“‹Related Recipes
  • โฌ‡๏ธHow to make a smaller half recipe
  • ๐Ÿ“…Make ahead and bake it later.
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธServing
  • โ„๏ธStoring reheating leftovers
  • โ“FAQs
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

This chicken pasta bake uses an easy homemade tomato sauce, much better than any jarred sauce. The recipe makes a large amount, but see the instructions below for a half recipe.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bakeโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

Trimming chicken into cubes.

1. Trim chicken breast and cut into smaller cubes.

Browning the chicken.

2. Saute the chicken with some diced onion and garlic.

Mixing sauce ingredients with the cooked chicken.

3. Add spices and tomato products. Simmer on low while cooking pasta and cubing mozzarella.

Cubes of mozzarella cheese.

4. Cook the pasta al dente and cube the mozzarella cheese.

Mixing pasta and cheese cubes into the sauce.

5. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the pasta and mozzarella.

Raw casserole with shredded Parmesan cheese.

6. Pour the mixture into a prepared baking dish, such as a 9X13 or 12-inch round, and top with ยผ cup Parmesan. At this point, refrigerate or bake.

Baked chicken and pasta bake.

7. Bake in a preheated 375ยฐ convection oven until bubbling and browning, about 30-40 minutes.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

๐ŸฅฃOptions and variations

Use skinless boneless chicken breasts or thighs. Precooked rotisserie chicken may be usedโ€”see instructions below.

Use other meat, like Italian sausage, ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey.

While you can use a jar sauce, you will love the easy homemade sauce. You will need 7 cups of sauce for the full recipe.

Use a smaller pasta, such as ziti or penne, or smaller pasta, like farfalle or rigatoni.

Add a touch of heat with the optional red pepper flakes. Or leave it out for kids.

๐Ÿค”How to use rotisserie chicken

You can use precooked rotisserie chicken. Cook the onion and then add the rotisserie chicken and pasta. Use 3-4 cups.

๐Ÿค”Adding ricotta cheese

Add small glops of ricotta cheese throughout the dish after moving to the baking dish for a more lasagna-like dish.

Combine 1 cup (8 oz.) ricotta cheese with one egg white, ยผ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ยฝ teaspoon dry parsley, and ยฝ teaspoon saltโ€”do not over-mix

๐Ÿ“‹Related Recipes

Check out other great Italian dishes such as Baked Chicken Spaghetti, Baked Pasta and Sausage, Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta, Parmesan Chicken Alfredo, and Crock Pot Chicken Italian Chicken Pasta.

Crock Pot Italian Chicken Pasta

Delicious Crock Pot Italian Chicken Pasta is loaded with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, tender chicken, and pasta. It is cooked in an easy homemade marinara sauce that cooks the dry pasta and chicken while it simmers.

Crock pot Italian chicken pasta on a spoon.

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โฌ‡๏ธHow to make a smaller half recipe

The full recipe makes about 8 large servings. A half recipe fits nicely in a 6X9 baking dish for 4 servings.

  1. Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings from 8 to 4.
  2. Use the amount of each ingredient in the ingredient list, not the instructionsโ€”those do not adjust.
  3. Bake for about 25-30 minutes until bubbling. Use the broiler if you need more browning.

๐Ÿ“…Make ahead and bake it later.

Yes. You can make ahead, and instead of baking, cover well and refrigerate for a day.

You can also freeze it uncooked for up to 3 months. Cover it with plastic wrap, then double wrap with foil. To cook, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Baking time will be about 10 minutes longer for a cold casserole.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธServing

Serve with a garden salad and a nice bread like Basic White Stand Mixer Bread or Julia Child's French Bread.

Peasant Bread

Peasant bread is a rustic artisan bread with a soft grain, crispy crust, and nutty flavor. It is an excellent beginner bread recipe because it is easy and quick to make with simple ingredients.

Peasant bread with butter.

โ„๏ธStoring reheating leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container refrigerated for 4 days or frozen for 3 months.

To reheat, first, if frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave, cover in the oven, or in an air fryer.

โ“FAQs

โ™จ๏ธDo I need to cook the pasta before adding it to the sauce?

Using this recipe will not cook raw pasta adequately. So you must boil and cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions.

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

Chicken pasta bake on a plate.

Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake

From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
This cheesy chicken pasta bake is easy to make with a simple homemade marinara sauce, tender chicken and pasta with loads of Italian spices, and melted mozzarella topped with Parmesan. Serve with crusty bread and a garden salad for a simple but delicious weeknight dinner.
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjustable :8 servings
Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Video Slideshow

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 pound dry pasta
  • โ…• cup Parmesan cheese - shredded
  • 1 pound mozzarella - cubed or shredded
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion - medium
  • 4-6 cloves garlic - crushed
  • 1 tablespoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ยผ to ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper - optional
  • ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 14 oz diced tomatoes
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 6 oz water

Step-by-Step Instructions
 

  • Trim and dice 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts into approximately ยฝ inch cubes. Chop 1 medium onion.
    Trimming chicken into cubes.
  • Chop one medium onion.
    Chopped onion on a white board.
  • In a large pan over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When shimmering, add the chicken. Saute for 3 minutes, then add onion and continue to saute for 5-6 minutes more until onion is clearing and chicken is 165ยฐ. Add 4-6 cloves crushed or minced garlic and saute for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove from heat.
    Browning the chicken.
  • Add 1 tablespoon basil, 1 teaspoon salt, ยผ-ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional), ยฝ teaspoon black pepper, 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 14 oz diced tomatoes, 6 oz tomato paste, and 6 oz water. Simmer on low while cooking pasta and cubing mozzarella.
    Mixing sauce ingredients with the cooked chicken.
  • Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions.ย Cube mozzarella cheese into ยฝ inch cubes or use shredded cheese.
    Cubes of mozzarella cheese.
  • Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the pasta and mozzarella.
    Mixing pasta and cheese cubes into the sauce.
  • Pour into a prepared baking dish, 9X13 or 12-inch round, and top with ยผ cup Parmesan and refrigerate or bake at this point.
    Raw casserole with shredded Parmesan cheese.
  • Place in a preheated 375ยฐ convection oven until bubbling and browningโ€”about 30-40 minutes.
    Baked chicken and pasta bake.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips:

  1. This is an easy recipe to cut in half. Adjust the ingredients in the servings area of the recipe card. It will change the ingredients but not the instructions. You will need to adjust those yourself.
  2. For a full recipe, use a 12-inch round or 13X9 casserole dish. For a half recipe, use a 9X6 casserole dish.
  3. Use the pasta of your choice. I prefer smaller pasta, so I use penna.
  4. Adjust your red pepper to taste.
  5. You can save some time using jarred sauce, but you really don't want to do that. It will not be as flavorful, and it will cost more.
  6. Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen for 3-4 months.
ย 

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.

To adjust the recipe size:

You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.

Nutrition Estimate (may vary)

Calories : 506 kcal (25%)Carbohydrates : 59 g (20%)Protein : 30 g (60%)Fat : 17 g (26%)Saturated Fat : 9 g (45%)Cholesterol : 65 mg (22%)Sodium : 1039 mg (43%)Potassium : 900 mg (26%)Fiber : 5 g (20%)Sugar : 11 g (12%)Vitamin A : 1044 IU (21%)Vitamin C : 20 mg (24%)Calcium : 399 mg (40%)Iron : 4 mg (22%)

Editor's Note: Originally Published May 13, 2010. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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  1. Dr Dan says

    September 16, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    I called it 8 servings. This is one of the "with lots of left overs" recipe. I will usually make this on a Sunday and use the left overs for quick weeknight suppers.

    Reply
  2. TwoTabsOfMesc says

    September 16, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    Just made for the second time.. Very good but have to say that this IS NOT a 2 person serving. More like 6. Would like to see more scaled down recipes.

    Reply

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
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