Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake is the answer to busy weeknights when you want comfort food without a sink full of dishes. Think pillowy pasta, bite-size chicken, and a garlicky pesto cream sauce bubbling under a blanket of golden mozzarella. Everything bakes in one pan while you set the table. If you love my French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole, this pesto twist will be your new go-to. Leftovers reheat like a dream for tomorrow’s lunch boxes.
Why You'll Love Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake is a 40-minute, one-dish dinner with juicy chicken, tender pasta, melty cheese and basil pesto. Family-approved!
- One pan, 40 minutes, beginner-friendly
- Pantry staples: rotisserie chicken, jar pesto, milk, pasta
- Kid-approved creamy sauce, adult-approved pesto punch
- Make-ahead & freezer-safe for meal prep
Ingredients for Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food
Pasta: Use short shapes that hold sauce—ziti or cellentani both rockPesto: Store-bought is fine; swap in sun-dried-tomato pesto for a twistChicken: Leftover turkey or even canned chunk chicken in a pinch
- Pasta: Use short shapes that hold sauce—ziti or cellentani both rock
- Pesto: Store-bought is fine; swap in sun-dried-tomato pesto for a twist
- Chicken: Leftover turkey or even canned chunk chicken in a pinch
Ingredient Note: Full measurements for Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food are listed in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food
Step 1 — Prep & Preheat
Preheat & Boil: Heat oven to 425 °F. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than package; drain.
Step 2 — Cook and Build Flavor
Mix Sauce: In a bowl whisk pesto, milk, cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper.
Step 3 — Finish, Taste, and Adjust
Combine: Stir pasta, chicken, half the mozzarella and all the Parmesan into the sauce.
Expert Tips for Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food
- Undercook the pasta so it doesn’t go mushy while baking.
- Warm the milk & cream slightly for faster bake time.
- Use block mozzarella you shred yourself—pre-shredded can be waxy.
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake is a 40-minute, one-dish dinner with juicy chicken, tender pasta, melty cheese and basil pesto. Family-approved!
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked penne or rotini (about 8 oz)
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced (rotisserie works great)
- 1 cup prepared basil pesto
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
Seasonings & Flavor Boosters
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp each salt & black pepper
- Pinch red-pepper flakes (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Extra Parmesan for crust
- Fresh basil ribbons
Instructions
How to Make Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake
- Preheat & Boil: Heat oven to 425 °F. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than package; drain.
- Mix Sauce: In a bowl whisk pesto, milk, cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper.
- Combine: Stir pasta, chicken, half the mozzarella and all the Parmesan into the sauce.
- Bake: Pour into greased 9×13-inch dish. Top with remaining mozzarella. Bake 20–25 min until bubbly and golden. Broil 1 min for extra browning.
Nutrition (per serving)
Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended (texture changes).
- Serve/Reheat: Best chilled or at room temperature.
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food FAQs
Yep—assemble through Step 3, cover and refrigerate up to 24 hrs. Add 5 extra bake minutes.
Use more whole milk plus 1 tbsp flour, or swap in plain Greek yogurt after baking.
Store in airtight containers; see Storage & Reheating section above.
Usually over-baked or not enough sauce—next time undercook pasta and add extra splash of milk before baking.
You Might Also Like
- French Onion Chicken Orzo Casserole
- Savory One-Pan Chicken with Buttered Noodles
- Marry Me Melting Cabbage: A Creamy Comfort Food Delight
Before You Go
If you try this Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake – Easy Weeknight Comfort Food, I'd love for you to leave a rating or share how you customized it.