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Easy Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake - Family-Friendly Weeknight Dinner

This creamy pesto chicken pasta bake is a comforting weeknight meal featuring tender chicken, vibrant pesto sauce, and cheesy pasta baked to perfection. It delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort and can be easily customized with your favorite vegetables.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 485
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
  • 1 cup basil pesto sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 1 cup spinach leaves

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish
  2. Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain well
  3. In a medium bowl, combine pesto sauce, heavy cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth
  4. Add cooked pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, and optional spinach to the sauce mixture and stir until evenly coated
  5. Transfer pasta mixture to prepared baking dish and sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the top
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly, with edges starting to brown
  7. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken

Notes

Use high-quality pesto sauce for best results. Can be made ahead up to 24 hours before baking. For lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream. Broil last 2-3 minutes for crispier top.