Pasta Bravo: Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake

Kmac's Note:

This is a recipe that I created to mimic an old favorite of mine at Pasta Bravo. A great combination of penne (or rigatoni, spirals) tomato, cheeses all baked to perfection...creamy on the inside with a crispy outside crust. This goes together really quickly, cooks in under 30 minutes and is totally company worthy. Delicious served with a salad and some bread sticks or baguette. Easily adaptable for a yummy veggie-pasta bake too!

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 16 ounces penne pasta (or substitute similar pasta of your choice)
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese (I use part skim)
• 26 ounces pasta sauce (use your favorite. I love Vodka Sauce with this recipe)
• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped (I usually use rotisserie from store for convenience, unless I've planned ahead)
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese (or blend ( wonderful with the pre-shredded Italian Mix with Mozzerella, fontina, romano, parmesan, a)
• 3 ounces black olives, sliced
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated (preferably fresh grated, not canned)
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (fresh are perfect, but canned are fine)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Saute chopped onions, peppers and garlic in olive oil, about 5 minutes over medium heat. Add mushrooms and continue to saute until mushrooms begin to soften, about 4 minutes more.
3. While the veggies are cooking, put pasta in a large pot of boiling water and cook until al dente. (still firm to the bite) WARNING: They will continue to cook and absorb the sauce in the oven, so do not overcook here. The package directions should give instructions for al dente cooking times, but for my penne, it's usually about 9 minutes. When they are finished, drain well and return to pan. Mix in ricotta and mozzerella cheeses.
4. When the veggies are softened, add the pasta sauce and stir well. Add the chicken and black olives.
5. Hopefully you really used a Large Pot for your pasta, because I find it easiest to mix everything in there before assembling. Add pasta/chicken mix to pasta/cheese mix and stir gently until well blended.
6. Pour all into shallow backing dish (a 9x13 will work, I use a similar sized oval baking dish). By keeping it shallow, you'll be sure to get a nice crust.
7. Sprinkle bread crumbs over top, followed by parmesan. I like to spray a little cooking spray on it to help give nice browning. (You could pour a little melted butter, but the Pam does the trick and saves calories to enjoy for the pasta!).
8. Place in preheated oven and bake, uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until bubbling and browned on top.
9. Let it sit a few minutes before serving (to allow the cheeses to firm a little and because it is TOO HOT to eat just out of the oven.
10. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Hilltop Farm Guy]

This is FABULOUS!!!! What a great idea. "Kmac" you are SO creative. The ingredients combine so well and the flavor is over the top. You must have come from a family of GREAT cooks. My son-in-law is an Asst Fire Chief and he thinks this is the best thing since St Louis pork ribs. Good job and thanks for sharing. Hilltop Guy

[threeovens]

This was a pretty good way to use leftover chicken. I added cut up eggplant with the mushrooms, and they worked well. Instead of pasta sauce I used a large can of stewed tomatoes. Unfortunately, the texture was not as good the second day.

[CookTillUDrop]

This was a huge hit with both young and old at a pot luck supper I recently made it for. This was one of the first dishes to go, and I can see why, because it's got incredible flavor! It's one of those dishes you just have to have seconds of, and I'm not kidding!