Description
A comforting baked pasta dish featuring tender chicken, creamy sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese, perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta in salted water until slightly firm (just under al dente). Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden.
- Lower heat, stir in marinara sauce, heavy cream, and minced garlic (if using). Simmer for 3-4 minutes until well combined.
- Stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan until melted and creamy.
- Combine cooked pasta, chicken, and creamy sauce in a bowl, mixing well.
- Transfer to a 9×13 baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until bubbly; broil for 2-3 minutes for a golden top.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
For extra cheesiness, save some cheese to sprinkle before serving. Feel free to customize the recipe with vegetables or different cheeses.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg