If yours is a pasta-loving family, this recipe is one you’ll be enjoying all year long. The tomatoes are pan-roasted and slightly sweetened to pair perfectly with herby pesto, chicken, and fresh mozzarella. Just add a simple salad, and dinner is done! Note that if you’d like the pasta bake to be extra-cheesy, just go up to 1 pound of mozzarella balls.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this easy-to-make recipe for Caprese Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake.
1. Info for Caprese Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
- Cook Time: 1 hr 15 min
- Total Time: 1 hr 15 min
- Servings: 6
- Calories: 431.27 kcal
2. Ingredients for Caprese Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
- penne pasta
- extra-virgin olive oil
- cherry tomatoes
- garlic cloves
- salt
- black pepper
- sugar
- cooked chicken breasts
- pesto
- fresh small mozzarella balls
- fresh basil leaves
3. Directions:
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°. Coat a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente; drain.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a medium saute pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the halved tomatoes, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar. Sauté until tomatoes begin to soften and release their juices, about 3 minutes.
- Gently toss together pasta, tomatoes, chicken, pesto, and mozzarella and spoon into the prepared baking dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake until cheese melts and pasta is warmed through, 20-25 minutes. Scatter fresh basil leaves on top if you like.
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