Just before I get to this DELICIOUS looking recipe for an Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake...a note of apology and thanks.
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Anyway...on to the recipe!
Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake. Just as advertised, super simple creamy sauce with only 2 ingredients, then just add your bacon and ziti/penne pasta and bake this pasta casserole in the oven.
This creamy chicken pasta casserole would be perfect for those nights when you don't have a lot of time, but need something filling to feed the family.
It's a great way to use up any leftover rotisserie chicken, or in Australia what we call a BBQ Chicken - don't know why because it's not barbecued! I have also used smoked bacon, you can taste the extra flavour from the smoke through the whole dish. Yum. Plus who doesn't love a creamy pasta bake?
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I hope you enjoy this creamy chicken and bacon pasta bake, or bbq chicken pasta bake to us Aussies!
Some more leftover chicken recipes you might like
One Pot Creamy Chicken Gnocchi - creamy chicken gnocchi soup made with leftover rotisserie chicken but NO cream!
Chicken Mornay Baked Potatoes - loaded baked potatoes topped with a creamy chicken, bacon and avocado mornay sauce.
Chicken Stuffing Bake - so easy to make from scratch, no stuffing mix required.
Lee-Ann ♥
Table of Contents
📖 Recipe
Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 200 g leftover shredded chicken
- 250 g dried macaroni pasta (see notes)
- pinch of fine salt
- 4 rashers smoked bacon roughly chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves crushed
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 300 ml pure cream
- 2 teaspoon salted butter
- 50 g fresh parmesan cheese
- 40 g shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 180c ff / 355 f.
- Cook pasta according to packet directions (plus a pinch of salt to the water) minus 1 min, then drain & return to pot, adding 2 teaspoon of butter and stirring lightly to coat.250 g dried macaroni pastapinch of fine salt2 teaspoon salted butter
- While pasta is cooking, place bacon in a small non-stick fry pan/skillet and fry for 6-8 mins, then add garlic and rosemary to pan & continue to fry for 1 min then remove pan from heat.4 rashers smoked bacon2 large garlic cloves1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- Add bacon mixture to cooked pasta & stir lightly to mix, then add cream & shredded parmesan to pasta, mixing to coat, then add chicken & mix again until incorporated.300 ml pure cream50 g fresh parmesan cheese200 g leftover shredded chicken
- Tip chicken and pasta mixture into an a baking dish, top with shredded mozzarella and bake uncovered for about 20 mins, or until peaks are lightly browned, then serve immediately.40 g shredded mozzarella
Notes
- **15/07/2018 Correction to amount of cream in recipe - should be 300ml.
- The baking dish I use for this recipe is 20cm x 30cm x 5cm (7.5" x 12" x 2")
- About the pasta I have chosen, I have made this dish made with ziti (or penne) pasta. I have also made it with shells, and quite frankly they taste the same of course because it's all still pasta.
- The reason I only add a pinch of salt to the pasta water is because the bacon itself can be salty - and we all know that once you have too much salt it's hard to fix! I found that this was enough salt for me. If you think you would like to add more, I would give it a taste just before it goes into the baking dish and add it then if you would like.
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I don't usually post comments on recipes unless I followed the directions. I didn't have all the ingredients and substituted. I was in a rush and didn't convert the measurements, looked good, I think that's this much kind of thing and doubled the recipe for my family. Let me say, my family loved it! I was asked to make this again, not sure I can, lol. I will make this again and follow the recipe, I am sure it will be delicious! Thanks for an easy meal to feed my tribe. 🙂
My pleasure, Dawn Marie - so glad your family enjoyed it! Kudos to you for making it work with what you had on hand too!
Tasty, easy dish. I felt it needed more liquid as it wasn't saucy enough
Great recipe. We loved it. A good way to use up leftover chicken. Next time I'm going to add some mushrooms to it as well. Thanks for the recipe. Very versatile.
Thanks Karyn!
It was very moreish & we loved it, however I'm a potato lover so I added a layer just under the cheese, so yummy, thank you 🙂
From one potato lover to another Deborah, awesome idea! Glad you enjoyed the recipe,
L x
Delicious. Made this for dinner. The only thing I did different was use basil in place of rosemary. Added a 1/4 cup frozen peas for a little color. Will definitely make it again.
Sorry to be a downer, but I found this very bland. I had to add a couple tbsp of cream cheese, salt and pepper, and some hot sauce to enhance the flavours. Some more herbs and spices would definitely make this a great mid-week dinner.
That's ok Debbie! Thanks for your honesty - glad you made the recipe work for you!
Debbie downer haha
Fabulous !! I used Coles oven baked chicken leftover and penne pasta I had in pantry and didn't add a thing. Topped with Mozzarella, cheddar & Pecorino cheese mix. So tasty!
My pleasure, Maree!
Grandkids love this. It's my go to chicken leftovers recipe. I add half a cup of cooked pasta water to it as they like the bake to be slightly looser.
Mine turned out bland and needed more liquid to make it saucier. However I adjusted it by adding some chicken stock.
Yummo and so easy
Awesome!
Looks delicious, but I wish it was in ounces, cups, tablespoons, etc.
Online converters are available. I suggest you print the recipe, find the conversions and write them on the printed version. Happy cooking!