Chicken and tomato pasta bake recipe

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This chicken and tomato pasta bake is classic comfort food. Easy to make and on the table in under an hour. Serve with a crisp green salad on the side.

Chicken and tomato pasta bake
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)
Serves4
SkillEasy
Preparation Time10 mins
Cooking Time40 mins - 45
Total Time50 mins - 55
Five A DayOne
Cost RangeCheap
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories702 Kcal35%
Sugar11 g12%
Fat19 g27%
Salt3.9 gRow 3 - Cell 2
Protein47 g94%
Carbohydrates84 g32%
Salt3.9 gRow 6 - Cell 2

This simple chicken and tomato pasta bake is always a family favourite.

It makes a great family supper to share around the dinner table, with just the right amount of tang from the tomatoes, plus an unctuously creamy cheese sauce. We've topped this with melting mozzarella so every bite is cheesy and delicious. You can use any kind of pasta shapes you like in this dish. We've used macaroni because they keep their pleasing twisty shape well in the baked sauce. Cavatappi - a bigger, wider version of macaroni, are a good choice too. This dish is lovely served with a frizzy green salad, but you could also add some garlic bread on the side if you like.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 400g skinless chicken breast fillet, cut into chunks
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato paste
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil, plus leaves to garnish
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 400g dried pasta shapes
  • 150g ready-grated mozzarella cheese

WEIGHT CONVERTER

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Method

  1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the onion and garlic for 5 mins until just softened. Add the chicken and fry for a further 5 mins, until browned all over. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and basil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and simmer gently for 15 mins.
  2. Meanwhile, boil the pasta shapes in a large pan of lightly salted water according to the packet instructions. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7.
  3. Drain the pasta shapes and stir in to the chicken and tomato sauce. Transfer to a shallow heatproof dish and sprinkle over the grated mozzarella. Bake for 15-20 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Serve garnished with basil leaves and a sprinkling of ground black pepper.

Watch how to make our chicken and tomato pasta bake...

Top tips for making chicken and tomato pasta bake

Sun-dried tomato paste has a more intense and earthy flavour than ordinary tomato puree. You'll find it in tubes or jars near the canned tomatoes in the supermarket

Can I make this pasta bake in advance?

Yes - here's how. Leave the pasta and chicken and tomato sauce to cool in the dish without the cheese topping. Cover and chill for up to 24 hrs. Then all you have to do is sprinkle with the cheese and cook at 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6 for 25-30 mins until piping hot.

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Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies