Italian Chicken Pasta Bake is the perfect fusion of hearty comfort food and classic Mediterranean flavors. This easy-to-make dish combines tender pieces of chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, a rich tomato-based sauce, and plenty of gooey melted cheese, all baked to golden perfection. It’s the ultimate family dinner, satisfying, flavorful, and ideal for busy weeknights or cozy weekend meals.
What makes this dish so appealing is its versatility. You can use penne, rigatoni, or fusilli as your pasta base. The chicken can be grilled, roasted, or even leftover rotisserie, making it an excellent way to reduce food waste. The sauce is typically a savory blend of garlic, onions, crushed tomatoes or marinara, and Italian herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme. For added richness, a touch of cream or a spoonful of ricotta can be stirred into the sauce before baking.
Once assembled, the pasta and chicken are layered with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, then baked until bubbly and slightly crispy on top. The result is a warm, cheesy casserole bursting with flavor and texture. For extra depth, some versions also include vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers.
Italian Chicken Pasta Bake is not only delicious but also a great make-ahead meal. You can prepare it in advance, refrigerate, and bake it when ready, or even freeze portions for later. Serve it with a side salad and garlic bread for a complete Italian-inspired dinner.
Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or meal-prepping for the week, this pasta bake is a go-to favorite that never disappoints, simple ingredients, bold flavors, and guaranteed comfort in every bite.
Ingredients
- 500 grams chicken breast cubed
- 400 grams penne pasta
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes 4 oz
- 1 can Tomato sauce 200 g
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- Basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken breast and cook until no longer pink in the center. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the diced onion, minced garlic, and diced bell peppers. Cook until the vegetables are softened.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine.
- Add the cooked chicken and penne pasta to the skillet. Mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and top with shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Nutrition
Isn’t this just baked ziti? Or is there a difference? 🤔
This was okay, but the pasta was too mushy. Maybe next time I’ll undercook it a bit.
I was skeptical about the measurements (especially the tomato stuff), but it ended up tasting very “Italian-ish” without being fussy. Would recommend!
Absolutely delicious! My family devoured it in no time. Will definitely make again!
350F for 20-25 mins and it’ll be done? My oven runs hot/cold (idk) so the chicken probably wasn’t fully cooked for me. I ended up broiling the top to brown it, and that helped, but I’d double-check timing.
This is an absolute game changer! The flavors are just incredible! 😍
I totally agree! This pasta bake is a lifesaver for quick dinners. ❤️
Really easy to make. My kids loved it! Will make agian for sure!!
I dunno, but my kids didn’t like it as much, maybe I did something wrong? 🤔
That’s awesome! I love when kids enjoy healthy meals. What do you plan to serve it with next time?
Honestly I thought it would be bland. The oregano and basil helped a lot, but I still used extra salt and pepper. Once adjusted, it was really nice.
Totally agree—Italian herbs do a lot. I also end up tweaking salt/pepper after tasting. Glad it turned out good for you!
Interesting… I followed it and mine felt a bit bland too, so I just keep adding more oregano/basil until it pops. Next time I’ll be brave with extra cheese.
5 stars! This dish was a hit at my potluck! Everyone asked for the recipe!
So glad to hear it was a hit! I made this last week and it was gone in minutes! Definitely a keeper!
Honestly, I don’t see what the fuss is about. It’s just chicken and pasta, right? Nothing special.
I liked it, but my bake was a little dry even though I followed the timing. Next time I’ll add a splash of pasta water or more tomato sauce. Otherwise tasty.
Glad you liked it! Dry bake even with the timing usually means the pasta soaked up the sauce a bit more than expected. Adding a splash of pasta water (or extra tomato sauce) is exactly what I’d try too.
Huh, 20–25 min at 180°C seems kinda short/long depending on how much liquid is in the dish. Did you cover it with foil? If not, the cheese top dries out and the pasta can get dry fast.
Absolutely loved this recipe! It turned out so cheesy and delicious. My whole family enjoyed it, and I’ll definitely be making it again! 🌟
So glad you loved it! It’s definitely a family favorite around here too. 😍
I don’t know, seems a bit too cheesy for my taste. Heard it can be heavy on the stomach.
Pretty solid, but I think it needs a little more moisture—mine came out slightly dry after the 25 minutes. Next time I’ll add a splash of pasta water or extra sauce.
Not bad, but 500g chicken + 400g penne feels a little heavy on pasta. Next time I might reduce the penne or add more tomato sauce so it’s less dry. Otherwise, it’s tasty.
Yum! Quick question – can I use any pasta? I only have spaghetti.
I found the recipe a bit bland. Maybe add some chili flakes next time?
Delicious and easy to make! My kids loved it, especially the cheese. 🍝
That’s awesome! Cheese makes everything better! 😍
Im not a great cook, but this was pretty simple. Thx for the recipe!
Smelled amazing while baking. My only complaint is I wish there was more cheese sauce, not just cheese on top. But the parmesan crust was delicious.
Totally agree—the parmesan crust is the best part. Next time I’ll double the sauce and maybe add a quick béchamel or extra mozzarella in the middle. Yum!
Not bad, but penne felt a bit too much for the amount of sauce in my opinion. Also I accidentally baked it 10 minutes longer and it got kinda brown fast 😅
Why no spinach or something? Also I didn’t have bell peppers so I used what I had and it was… okay. 3/5, I guess.
This was an epic fail for me. The chicken was dry and the pasta was mushy. Never again.
I don’t get why people like this. It was bland and I expected more flavor. Disappointed!
Have you tried adding some extra seasoning? Sometimes just a bit more salt or herbs can really enhance the flavor! 🤷♂️
Quick and easy recipe! I used left over chicken and it worked like a charm! 👍
I wish you would give the amount of ingredients in ENGLISH – ( 2 cups, 1/2 Tablespoon, etc.) We don’t use GRAMS in our ingredients and it is very confusing!
Grams *is* English! In terms of fiber content, carbs et cetera, nutritional labels all use grams now. As for the weights? go get a kitchen scale. Or tack up a conversion chart (grams/ounces) on the inside of your pantry door. You will SOON GET the hang of it!!! Measurements in grams (Weight), rather than cups (Volume), is a far more accurate way to cook anyway. USA, Liberia and Burma are *only* countries who don’t use metric weights. OUCH! Be part of the change to bring the USA up to standard. It’s a simple system to learn. Your kids, and grandkids will thank you!
Absolutely provide in ENGLISH! If you show it once so we can post it to use FOREVER, we will appreciate it!
Solid recipe, but I added a pinch of red pepper flakes because I can’t resist. Bake time was perfect and the cheese came out bubbly. Easy weeknight win.
Totally agree—pinch of pepper flakes is the move. Bake time can be tricky, so that “perfect” result is huge. 🍝
Did anyone else mess this up? My cheese didn’t melt right. What did I do wrong?
Followed the recipe but it didn’t turn out like the picture. The taste was fine, but I expected more. Kinda disappointing.
Italian pasta is the best in the world, no contest!
Definitely!!! I agree and this is my favorite dish.
I followed it exactly but it was kinda bland? Like, not bad, just needed more salt or maybe more basil. The oven temp is fine though.
The prep is straightforward, but I overcooked the chicken once and it got tough. If your chicken is just cooked through, this is definitely worth it.
My chicken also came out tough once 😅 I think 500g cubed breast cooks way faster than the recipe suggests. I might sauté less time or cover the skillet. But overall flavor is really solid.
Totally agree—when the chicken goes even slightly past “just cooked,” it turns chewy fast. Next time I’ll pull it earlier and let the oven finish it gently. Still sounds like a great bake!