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    Home » Chicken Recipes

    Chicken Pasta Bake

    Published: Oct 12, 2023 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    1059 shares
    • 27
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Looking for easy chicken recipes? Cheese just makes everything taste better. Pasta and chicken are pretty standard dinner fare, but when you add cheese to the mix, they are automatically kicked up a notch. This Chicken Pasta Bake will surely be a meal the whole family will enjoy. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kraft. The opinions and text are all mine.

    pasta in a baking dish with sauce and mozzarella.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐Why This Chicken Pasta Bake Is Awesome
    • 🥣Ingredient Notes
    • 📋How to Make This Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe
    • 👩🏻‍🍳Expert Tips
    • 🤷🏻‍♀️Recipe FAQs
    • 🥯 Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    ⭐Why This Chicken Pasta Bake Is Awesome

    • Very versatile. You can use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta if that works better with your diet. You can also add more or less cheese depending on your taste.
    • Easy to make comfort food that the whole family will love.
    • You can customize this dish by adding vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms or peppers. You can also add some red pepper flakes for extra spice.


    🥣Ingredient Notes

    • Marinara sauce - You can make your own marinara sauce or use the jarred kind.
    • Ziti pasta - Uncooked. You can also use any kind of short pasta you have on hand.
    • Shredded mozzarella cheese - I used finely shredded, but any type of shredded mozzarella will work.
    • Chicken breast - Cooked and cut into nugget-sized pieces. You can also use rotisserie chicken as a shortcut.
    • Parmesan cheese - You can freshly grate your own or use store-bought.
    • Provolone cheese - Sliced variety that is used for sandwiches.
    ingredients to make a chicken pasta bake.


    📋How to Make This Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe


    STEP 1: Boil ziti and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

    STEP 2: Spray an 8x8 casserole dish with cooking spray. Spread ¼ cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Top with ½ of the cooked pasta.

    sauce and uncooked ziti in a baking dish.

    STEP 3: Top ziti with ½ cup of Kraft shredded mozzarella. Then add half of the cooked chicken pieces.

    pasta chicken and shredded cheese in a casserole dish.

    STEP 4: Top chicken with a ½ cup of marinara sauce. Then add the other half of cooked ziti, ½ cup shredded mozzarella, the remaining chicken, the remainder of the sauce and ¼ cup of Kraft Parmesan cheese. Add garlic powder, oregano and salt and pepper according to your tastes.

    pasta chicken sauce and shredded mozzarella in baking dish.

    STEP 5: Top with 4 slices of Kraft provolone cheese.

    chicken and pasta casserole topped with sliced provelone.

    STEP 6: Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

    chicken pasta bake.

    There is no need to go to your local Italian restaurant when you can make this family favorite at home.

    👩🏻‍🍳Expert Tips

    Tip 1: If you don't have provolone cheese you can sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella instead.

    Tip 2: Customize and add some good-for-you veggies such as spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, or peppers.

    🤷🏻‍♀️Recipe FAQs

    How do I store this three-cheese chicken and pasta bake?

    You can store this in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    What can I serve with this chicken pasta casserole?

    This would be great served with a side salad, garlic bread or Pepperoni Mozzarella Crisps.

    I don't have ziti. What other kind of pasta can I use?

    You can also use penne pasta, rigatoni, fusilli or bowtie.


    🥯 Related Recipes

    • Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Cups
    • Cheesy Tortellini Pasta Bake
    • One Pot Pizza Pasta Casserole
    • Stuffed Shells Recipe

    🌟If you try this recipe, leave a star rating below or a review in the comment section. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get my latest recipes! When you sign up you get The 5 Essential Recipes All Busy Moms Need.

    📖 Recipe

    Three Cheese Pasta and Chicken Bake

    Vicky
    Three Cheese Pasta and Chicken Bake is a family favorite in our house!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6
    Calories 384 kcal

    Video

    Ingredients
      

    • Cooking spray
    • 1 ¼ cups marinara sauce
    • 4 cups uncooked ziti pasta
    • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 1 pound cooked chicken breast cut into nugget sized pieces
    • ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
    • 4 slices Provolone Cheese
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    • Cook ziti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
    • Spray an 8×8 casserole dish with cooking spray.
    • Spread ¼ cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish.
    • Top with ½ of the cooked ziti.
    • Top ziti with ½ cup of Kraft shredded mozzarella. Then add half of the cooked chicken pieces.
    • Top chicken with a ½ cup of marinara sauce. Then add the other half of cooked ziti, ½ cup shredded mozzarella, the remaining chicken, the remainder of the sauce and ¼ cup of Kraft Parmesan cheese.
    • Salt and pepper to taste.
    • Top with 4 slices of Kraft provolone cheese.
    • Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

    Notes

    • If you don't have provolone cheese you can sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella instead of the provolone.
    • Customize and add some good-for-you veggies such as spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, or peppers.
    • This nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using online calculators. Your nutritional information may vary depending on numerous factors.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 384kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 32gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 704mgPotassium: 577mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 565IUVitamin C: 4.5mgCalcium: 304mgIron: 1.5mg
    Keyword Three cheese pasta and Chicken bake
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 4 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. MelanieB says

      June 05, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this! So delicious, but I had to use a 13x9 dish. Fit just right. Used whole jar of sauce and added more cheese due to the larger dish. Definitely adding to my favorite go-to meal list! 😋

      Reply
    2. Edna says

      November 09, 2016 at 12:56 pm

      How many does this recipe serve? I plan to make it for a dinner party. This will be the main course for 10 people. So I'm wondering if I should double or triple the recipe. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        November 10, 2016 at 10:23 am

        For the main course for adults 3 servings. Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
    3. Andrea says

      July 03, 2016 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight, everyone LOVED it! 5 teenagers, my husband and I all really enjoyed this. Will make again!
      Thank you for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        July 06, 2016 at 10:48 am

        Thanks for the kind words Andrea! Glad everyone loved it!

        Reply
    4. Emily says

      May 04, 2016 at 8:45 am

      Hi I'm a new wife and fairly new to cooking, sorry if this is a stupid question, but when the recipe says 'cooked chicken' does that mean I cook it thoroughly beforehand, or buy frozen cooken chicken and cook it thoroughly in the pan with everything else?

      Reply
      • Vicky says

        May 04, 2016 at 2:33 pm

        There are no stupid questions. I just cooked the chicken beforehand and added the cooked to chicken to everything. Hope that helps.

        Reply
    5. Helen Town says

      September 19, 2014 at 8:53 pm

      Ooh! I can totally do this! I've already got all of the supplies on hand! Thanks, Vicky, for making my Friday more fun and less work. 🙂

      Reply
      • Vicky @ Mess For Less says

        September 22, 2014 at 4:55 pm

        Thanks Helen! That's my goal! 🙂

        Reply
    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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