Best 4 Pesto Chicken Penne Casseroles Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey with our diverse collection of Pesto Chicken Penne Casseroles, each offering a unique blend of flavors to tantalize your taste buds. From the classic combination of pesto, chicken, and penne in a creamy sauce to the innovative sun-dried tomato and spinach variant, our recipes cater to various preferences. Explore the zesty lemon pesto chicken penne casserole for a refreshing twist or embrace the cheesy goodness of the baked pesto chicken penne casserole. Whichever recipe you choose, be prepared for a delightful symphony of flavors and textures that will leave you craving more.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CHICKEN PESTO PASTA



Chicken Pesto Pasta image

Rich and creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake with tomatoes, whole wheat noodles, bright pesto, and Greek yogurt. Healthy, freezer friendly, and flavor packed!

Provided by Erin Clarke / Well Plated

Categories     Dinner     Main Course

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound DeLallo Whole Wheat Pasta
1 6.35 ounce jar DeLallo Simply Pesto (Traditional Pesto flavor)
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach (thawed with as much of the liquid squeezed out as possible.)
2 pints cherry tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (or a blend of mozzarella and provolone)
¼ cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves (roughly chopped, divided)
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the diced chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté the chicken until golden on all sides and fully cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.
  • In a large stockpot of boiling, generously salted water, cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid, then drain. Return pasta to the stockpot.
  • While the pasta cooks, in a small bowl, whisk together the pesto and Greek yogurt until evenly combined.
  • Stir in the spinach, breaking it up as needed and stirring until evenly combined.
  • To the stockpot with the pasta, add the pesto/Greek yogurt mixture. Gently stir to coat the noodles in the pesto mixture. If the sauce is too thick, splash in some of the pasta water. It should be a little saucy.
  • Add the cooked chicken, cherry tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Gently toss to combine.
  • Pour half of the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 cup mozzarella and half of the basil. Layer the remaining half of the pasta over the top, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and just barely starts to turn golden. Remove and sprinkle immediately with the Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 (of 10), Calories 300 kcal, Carbohydrate 33 g, Protein 25 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 47 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 4 g

PENNE WITH CHICKEN AND PESTO



Penne with Chicken and Pesto image

I sometimes substitute chicken broth for half the heavy cream called for in the recipe to reduce calories. I also use additional Parmesan.

Provided by MARYSTEVE

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
¼ cup pesto
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  • Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken and garlic until chicken is almost cooked. Reduce heat and stir in salt, pepper, cream, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in cooked pasta.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 497.1 calories, Carbohydrate 42.6 g, Cholesterol 96.9 mg, Fat 26.1 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 12.6 g, Sodium 164.2 mg, Sugar 1.9 g

CHICKEN PESTO PENNE



Chicken Pesto Penne image

"Served with a side dish of vegetables, this makes a filling meal for two," writes Bill Hilbrich of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. "Sometimes I use cooked shrimp instead of chicken."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 cup uncooked penne pasta
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared pesto
1 cup cubed cooked chicken

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, sour cream and pesto. Drain pasta. Add pasta and chicken to Parmesan mixture; toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 392 calories, Fat 17g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 81mg cholesterol, Sodium 282mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 30g protein.

PESTO-CHICKEN PENNE CASSEROLES



Pesto-Chicken Penne Casseroles image

Creamy, flavorful and so easy to fix, this meal-in-one will wow family and friends. Get ready for recipe requests for this easy chicken casserole! -Laura Kayser, Ankeny, Iowa

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 2 casseroles (6 servings each).

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
6 cups cubed cooked chicken
4 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 jar (15 ounces) Alfredo sauce
1-1/2 cups 2% milk
1 jar (8.1 ounces) prepared pesto
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, cheese blend, spinach, tomatoes, Alfredo sauce, milk and pesto. Drain pasta and add to chicken mixture; toss to coat., Transfer to 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil; sprinkle over casseroles., Cover and freeze 1 casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly., To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 612 calories, Fat 30g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 111mg cholesterol, Sodium 829mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 42g protein.

Tips:

  • Fresh ingredients make all the difference: Use the freshest possible ingredients for the best flavor. This means using fresh basil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Don't overcook the chicken: Chicken breasts can easily become dry and tough if overcooked. Cook them until they are just cooked through, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use a good quality pesto: The pesto is the key ingredient in this recipe, so it's important to use a good quality one. Make your own pesto or use a store-bought brand that you like.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment: This recipe is a great starting point, but you can easily customize it to your own taste. Try adding different vegetables, such as roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes. You can also use different types of pasta, such as farfalle or fusilli.

Conclusion:

Pesto chicken penne casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a busy weeknight meal. It's also a great way to use up leftover chicken. The creamy pesto sauce, tender chicken, and al dente pasta make this dish a hit with everyone. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give this pesto chicken penne casserole a try.

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