Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake
Cheesy chicken bacon pasta bake is a simple family dinner perfect for a weeknight meal. Comforting, easy to prepare, and freezer-friendly!
Serving: 6
Calories: 386kcal
Ingredients
- 400 g penne pasta
- 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 220 g chicken breast, cut into small strips or chunks
- 150 g smoked bacon, cut into small chunks
- 350 g tomato sauce, or a jar of pasta sauce
- sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 125 g mozzarella, grated
- 125 g Parmesan cheese, grated
- handful fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C (360°F) or 160°C (with fan option on) or gas mark 4.
- Place a large pan of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Lightly season with sea salt, then add the pasta and cook for about 7-9 minutes.
- Look at the instructions on your pasta packaging. See how long it tells you to boil the penne for, and drain the pasta 3-4 minutes before this time.
- Whilst the pasta cooks, heat a skillet to medium heat, add the olive oil and the chicken and stir-fry for about 5 minutes, until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides.
- Heat a small skillet over medium heat, add the bacon and cook until crispy, for about 4-5 minutes, then transfer on a plate covered with kitchen paper to absorb the grease in excess.
- Drain the pasta al dente, and transfer the pasta back into the pan. Add in the tomato sauce, chicken and bacon and mix all the ingredients. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Transfer the ingredients in a 6x8 inches baking dish or an oven-friendly pan, and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and mozzarella all over the top.
- Bake the chicken and bacon pasta for around 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is golden brown. If you want some nice crunchy brown spots, set the baking dish under the grill for 2-3 minutes extra. Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
Can you store leftovers in the fridge?
Of course! Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep well for a couple of days.
Can you freeze it?
You can safely freeze it. I love to make a big batch store it in individual freezer-friendly containers in the freezer. They keep well for about 1 month (but usually disappear earlier than that).
Can you reheat it?
Yes, you can. I personally prefer to reheat it in a hot oven for 4-5 minutes, rather than in the microwave, as it keeps its crunchy texture much better.
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Nutrition
Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 1039mg | Potassium: 479mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 567IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 368mg | Iron: 2mg
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.