Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake

It doesn’t get much more comforting than a creamy pasta bake and this Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake is an easy weeknight meal that will feed a hungry family of 4, or 2 with leftovers to take to work. A creamy tomato sauce with chunks of chicken, and plenty of cheese of course!

Chicken Pasta Bake

This creamy chicken pasta bake is one that I have been making since I was in university. It started out very basic, with just chicken, a tin of tomatoes and pasta and I have adapted it every time I made it since. But I think this version is as close to perfection as this recipe is going to get.

This is a pasta bake that the whole family is going to love. It’s fairly simple when it comes to the flavours, but is really filling and comforting. Perfect for a chilly autumn/winter evening.

Healthy Pasta Bake

Cheese is a must on a pasta bake and whilst this is certainly not lacking in the cheese department, we haven’t gone too crazy. We have gone with quality, not quantity, and use cheeses with a strong flavour so you can get away with using less of them.

We used a good quality cream cheese from a local farm shop, along with some mature cheddar and some mozzarella. But you could also use parmesan and goats cheese on top to get a really strong flavour.

The Best Pasta For A Pasta Bake

I think that something really chunky works well, which is why we have used rigatoni. You could use penne or fusilli instead, but I wouldn’t recommend using something like macaroni, as it would get lost. The pasta is the star of the show here, so let it shine.

Can You Freeze Leftover Chicken Pasta Bake?

Yes, you can and this is a really good batch cook meal to save you time in the week. Just let the bake cool fully and then portion it out in to containers and freeze. Defrost thoroughly and reheat – add a tablespoon of water before reheating just so it doesn’t dry out.

Vegetables in a Pasta Bake

I find it not hard to try and sneak some vegetables in to a dish, as everyone can do with some extra veggies in their life. I grated a courgette and stirred it in to the pasta, but it would work with a carrot too.

You could also finely chop some bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach or kale to stir in to the pasta sauce. You know your family best, so add in the veggies you know they will enjoy, or won’t be able to detect.

Vegetarian Pasta Bake

Keep this healthy pasta bake vegetarian by swapping out the chicken and using chunks of roasted aubergine or tofu instead. You could even go for a seafood version and use king prawns.

One of my other go-to pasta dishes when I was at university was a tuna pasta bake – such a classic. So you could swap the chicken for a couple of tins of tuna instead.

Ingredients needed to make a Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake (serves 4)

• 2 medium chicken breasts, cut in to chunks
• 280g Rigatoni pasta
• 4 shallots, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 courgette, grated
• 1 can (400g) plum tomatoes
• 100ml vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 3 tbsp reduced fat cream cheese
• 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 40g mature cheddar cheese
• 30g mozzarella, torn
• A handful of fresh basil, chopped

How To Make Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake – Step by Step

One: Heat some oil in a large pan and then add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Two: Put the pasta in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes.
Three: Add the tomatoes, tomato puree and oregano to the chicken and mash the tomatoes a little and simmer for 2 minutes.
Four: Drain the pasta and add the grated courgette and cream cheese and stir well.
Five: Add the pasta mixture to the chicken mixture along with the cherry tomatoes and stir well.
Six: Transfer to an oven safe dish and sprinkle with the cheddar, mozzarella and basil and put in a pre-heated oven at 190°C for 15 minutes.
Seven: Serve with chopped basil sprinkled on top.

Other Pasta Recipes To Try:

Creamy Butternut Squash Hummus Pasta
Mushroom Bolognese
15 Minute Garlic and Herb Spaghetti
Tomato, Garlic and Prawn Spaghetti
Healthy Mac and Cheese
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Bake

Some extra tips for this Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake:

• We used cheddar and mozzarella on top, but you could swap it for parmesan and goats cheese instead.
• Keep this vegetarian by swapping out the chicken and using chunks of roasted aubergine or tofu instead. You could even for a seafood version and use king prawns or tuna instead.
• If you want the sauce a little bit sweeter, a glug of good quality balsamic vinegar would go a long way.
• Feel free to use different types of pasta if you already have some in your cupboard.
• This is a good opportunity to sneak in lots of extra vegetables. Spinach, chopped peppers and mushrooms work well.
• You could use leftover shredded chicken in this too.
• Always cook your pasta for a couple of minutes less than usual with making a pasta bake, as it will cook more in the oven.

If you’ve tried this Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake, or any other recipe on the blog, then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipe ideas, behind the scenes shots and also what we are getting up to.

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Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake

It doesn't get much more comforting than a creamy pasta bake and this Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake is an easy weeknight meal that will feed a hungry family.

4.94 from 33 votes

Print

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: chicken pasta, healthy italian, healthy pasta, pasta bake, pasta recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 portions

Calories: 495kcal

Author: Dannii

Ingredients

UK measures - US measures

• 300 g Chicken breasts, cut in to chunks
• 280 g Rigatoni pasta
• 4 Shallots, diced
• 3 Garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tbsp Dried oregano
• 1 Courgette grated
• 400 g Plum tomatoes
• 100 ml Vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp Tomato puree
• 3 tbsp Reduced fat cream cheese
• 8 Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 40 g Mature cheddar cheese
• 30 g Mozzarella, torn
• 1 handful Fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

• Put the pasta in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Heat some oil in a large pan and then add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato puree and oregano to the chicken and mash the tomatoes a little and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and add the grated courgette and cream cheese and stir well.
• Add the pasta mixture to the chicken mixture along with the cherry tomatoes and stir well.
• Transfer to an oven safe dish and sprinkle with the cheddar, mozzarella and basil and put in a pre-heated oven at 190°C for 15 minutes.

Video

Notes

• We used cheddar and mozzarella on top, but you could swap it for parmesan and goats cheese instead.
• Keep this vegetarian by swapping out the chicken and using chunks of roasted aubergine or tofu instead. You could even for a seafood version and use king prawns or tuna instead.
• If you want the sauce a little bit sweeter, a glug of good quality balsamic vinegar would go a long way.
• Feel free to use different types of pasta if you already have some in your cupboard.
• This is a good opportunity to sneak in lots of extra vegetables. Spinach, chopped peppers and mushrooms work well.
• You could use leftover shredded chicken in this too.
• Always cook your pasta for a couple of minutes less than usual with making a pasta bake, as it will cook more in the oven.

Nutrition Facts

Creamy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bake

Amount Per Serving (1 portion)

Calories 495 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 10g 15%

Saturated Fat 4g 20%

Cholesterol 70mg 23%

Sodium 372mg 16%

Potassium 1069mg 31%

Total Carbohydrates 67g 22%

Dietary Fiber 6g 24%

Sugars 10g

Protein 33g 66%

Vitamin A 29.9%

Vitamin C 42%

Calcium 22%

Iron 18.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.