Description
This comforting Chicken Pasta Bake features tender chicken breast strips mixed with a rich, creamy tomato and mascarpone sauce, baked to bubbling perfection with a cheesy topping of mature cheddar and mozzarella. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it combines simple ingredients for a deliciously satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Base
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- ¼ tsp chilli flakes
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 6 tbsp mascarpone
Main Ingredients
- 4 skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 300g penne pasta
Topping
- 70g mature cheddar, grated
- 50g grated mozzarella
- ½ small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook gently for 10-12 minutes until softened. Add the crushed garlic and chilli flakes and cook for an additional 1 minute to release their flavors. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and add caster sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until thickened, then stir through the mascarpone until fully combined.
- Cook the Chicken: While the sauce simmers, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Season the sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Fry the chicken strips for 5-7 minutes until fully cooked and no longer pink inside. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the Pasta: Preheat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan) or gas mark 7. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Assemble the Bake: Transfer the cooked pasta to a medium-sized ovenproof dish. Stir in the cooked chicken strips, then pour the tomato and mascarpone sauce over the top, mixing gently to combine.
- Add the Toppings: Sprinkle the grated mature cheddar and mozzarella evenly over the pasta and sauce. Finish by scattering the finely chopped parsley over the top.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbling hot.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase the chilli flakes slightly or add fresh chopped chili.
- You can substitute penne with any other pasta shape like rigatoni or fusilli.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
- If mascarpone is unavailable, cream cheese can be used as a substitute though the flavor and texture will vary slightly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Keywords: chicken pasta bake, creamy chicken pasta, baked pasta dish, easy dinner recipe, oven-baked pasta, mascarpone pasta, cheesy chicken bake
