Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake (No Boil) Recipe - Fed & Fit (2024)

This one-dish pesto chicken pasta bake is so flavorful and easy to pull together that you may never go back to making pasta on the stove again!

The Fabulousness of a No Boil Pasta Bake Recipe

There is nothing better than a no-boil pasta bake recipe. It’s the epitome of ease! The entire meal cooks in a single casserole dish, prep is a breeze, and there is no need for additional pots and pans. The flavors of this pasta bake are perfectly balanced by the bright, herby flavors of the pesto, saltiness from the cheese, plus the sweet and tart combo of the sun-dried tomatoes, all carried by perfectly cooked pasta and tender chicken.The result is a super flavorful, fulfilling meal that is beautiful and tastes great!

No Boil Pesto Pasta Bake Ingredients

The ingredients are simple, but the flavor is complex! Here’s what you’ll need to make this pesto pasta bake:

• 12 ounces of penne pasta
• 22 ounces of pesto
• 1 ½ cups of chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 8 ounces of mozzarella pearls
• 1 ½ pounds of chicken breast
• 8 ounces of sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained
• 1 tablespoon of Balanced Bites Italian Spice Blend (or 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning + 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of pepper

How to Make Pesto Pasta Bake with Chicken

After just 10 minutes of hands-on prep, your meal will be ready to bake. Here’s how you’ll make this pesto pasta bake with chicken:

1. Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Season the chicken. Cube your chicken into 1” pieces and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Prep the pasta. To a 9×13 casserole dish, add the pasta, pesto, chicken broth, and lemon juice. Stir to combine, then add the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes and give the ingredients one more stir to ensure everything is well incorporated. Finish it off by placing the mozzarella pearls evenly throughout the dish.
4. Cover and bake. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
5. Serve and enjoy! Remove the foil carefully, the steam will be hot! Serve and enjoy!

Variations on Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake

• Make it gluten-free. Use gluten-free pasta (we used this one) to make this dish gluten-free.
• Make it vegetarian. If you prefer to have a vegetarian dish, simply omit the chicken. It will still be just as tasty and satisfying!

How to Serve Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake

This chicken pesto pasta bake is a complete meal on its own, but if you are looking to add something to it, a simple side salad with mixed greens is a great addition.

Storing Baked Chicken Pesto Pasta

To store your chicken pesto pasta bake, let the dish cool completely, then cover the dish or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

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