Baked chicken pasta casserole is the perfect comfort food, packed with chicken, tomato sauce, cheese, and pasta.
This chicken pasta casserole is a dish that the whole family will love. This casserole is chock-full with chicken and pasta, all in a creamy tomato sauce.
I grew up eating casseroles. I still love making them and eating them today. This recipe combines tender bites of chicken with hearty pasta and a creamy red sauce. It is a recipe that is sure to please the whole family.
Helpful Tips
- This recipe calls for chicken thigh meat, but if you prefer chicken breast can be used.
- After cooking the chicken, leave the liquid in the skillet to cook the vegetables. If there is not enough oil/liquid left add additional oil.
- Cook the noodles for a minute or two less than the cooking directions on the box. They will finish cooking while the casserole bakes.
- Rigatoni pasta is used in this recipe, you may switch it out. If switching it out for another pasta, I would suggest using a large pasta or I have made it with elbow macaroni.
- To reheat leftovers in the oven, place the casserole in an oven baking dish cover it with aluminum foil, and heat until heated through. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. For the microwave, place the amount of casserole in a microwave-safe container and heat until heated through.
- Also, you can freeze this in an airtight container.
Ingredients you will need to make baked chicken pasta casserole
- Olive Oil
- Chicken Thighs
- Green Pepper
- Onion
- Garlic
- Diced Tomatoes
- Tomato Sauce
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Basil
- Dried Parsley
- Parmesan Cheese
- Pasta
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Salt and Pepper
Steps for making this recipe
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish.
Step one
In a skillet, add the olive oil and chicken pieces. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
Step two
Cook the pasta while the chicken is in the skillet. Use the directions on the package, cooking a minute or two less.
Step three
Once the chicken is removed from the skillet, add the green pepper, onion, and garlic and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.
Step four
Add the diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce to the skillet, and stir in. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and the seasonings.
Step five
Add the chicken back to the skillet along with the pasta, and stir in until well combined. Stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Step six
Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Here are some additional easy dinner recipes you will enjoy
If you make this Baked Chicken Pasta Casserole, I would love to hear about it! Please leave me a comment and a rating.
Baked Chicken Pasta Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup green pepper finely chopped
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 1/2 teaspoon basil dried
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley dried
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounces uncooked rigatoni
- 2 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a skillet heat the olive oil. Add the chicken season with salt and pepper. ย Cook until no longer pink about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the rigatoni pasta for a minute or two according to the directions on the box.
- Add the green pepper, onion, and garlic and cook until softened. Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce and stir in.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, and parsley. Add the cream and mix in. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Add the chicken back into the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Stir until well combined.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over top of the casserole.
- Transfer to a casserole dish. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
Notes
- Chicken breast can be used instead of chicken thighs for this recipe.ย
- If you prefer smaller chunks of tomato in casseroles, use petite diced tomatoes.ย
- For lower sodium use no salt diced tomatoes and sauce.ย
- To reheat leftovers in the oven, preheat the oven to 350, put the leftovers in an oven-safe dish cover it with aluminum foil, and heat until heated through.
- To reheat leftovers in the microwave,ย place the leftovers in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a paper towel, and heat until heated through.
- The leftovers can also be frozen to be eaten at a later date.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on May 29, 2017. It has been updated with new content and pictures on January 11, 2024.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
That looks like a super duper delicious weekday meal, Dawn.
Liz
Yes, this DOES remind me of goulash! We had it as kids—and I remember making it many times without a recipe. I love the sound of your baked chicken pasta casserole, too!
Karly
All the deliciousness feels <3 I mean seriously, this is dinnertime perfection. Pinned!
Juliana
Wow Dawn, this pasta dish looks delicious…and I love the one pot meal…this sure is loaded with great flavors and yes, easy to make!
Have a wonderful week ahead ๐
John/Kitchen Riffs
Love casseroles. Hot dishes. Whatever. ๐ This looks terrific — SO much flavor packed into this. Thanks!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
I looooove casseroles! They were always my favorite growing up but I rarely make them now. I should start! This looks awesome, Dawn!
David @ Spiced
You can’t ever go wrong with pasta and cheese! This sounds like my kind of comfort food, Dawn!
The Happy Whisk (Ivy)
Love that baked dish.
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
OMG that crust burnt part around the top is the BEST PART!!!