Caprese Chicken Pasta Bake
Caprese Chicken Pasta Bake
Ingredients
For the Pasta Bake
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded or diced
For the Caprese Topping and Garnish
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella balls, small (bocconcini), halved
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and let it gently bubble for 5-7 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Remove the sauce from heat. Stir in the cooked and shredded chicken, cooked pasta, and grated Parmesan cheese. Add 6 ounces of the shredded fresh mozzarella cheese, stirring until combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Evenly scatter the remaining 2 ounces of shredded fresh mozzarella, the halved cherry tomatoes, and the halved small fresh mozzarella balls over the top.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown. If desired, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra browning, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish generously with fresh basil leaves.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Caprese Chicken Pasta Bake
Ingredients
For the Pasta Bake
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded or diced
For the Caprese Topping and Garnish
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella balls, small (bocconcini), halved
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and let it gently bubble for 5-7 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Remove the sauce from heat. Stir in the cooked and shredded chicken, cooked pasta, and grated Parmesan cheese. Add 6 ounces of the shredded fresh mozzarella cheese, stirring until combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Evenly scatter the remaining 2 ounces of shredded fresh mozzarella, the halved cherry tomatoes, and the halved small fresh mozzarella balls over the top.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown. If desired, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra browning, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish generously with fresh basil leaves.
⏱️ 5 min