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.
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⭐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.
📋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.
STEP 3: Top ziti with ½ cup of Kraft shredded mozzarella. Then add half of the cooked chicken pieces.
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.
STEP 5: Top with 4 slices of Kraft provolone cheese.
STEP 6: Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
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.
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📖 Recipe
Three Cheese Pasta and Chicken Bake
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.
Video
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.
MelanieB
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! 😋
Edna
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!
Vicky
For the main course for adults 3 servings. Thanks for stopping by!
Andrea
I made this tonight, everyone LOVED it! 5 teenagers, my husband and I all really enjoyed this. Will make again!
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Vicky
Thanks for the kind words Andrea! Glad everyone loved it!
Emily
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?
Vicky
There are no stupid questions. I just cooked the chicken beforehand and added the cooked to chicken to everything. Hope that helps.
Helen Town
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. 🙂
Vicky @ Mess For Less
Thanks Helen! That's my goal! 🙂