Chicken and chorizo pasta bake is a delicious, simple and quick to make family dinner recipe. This filling dinner can be on the table in just one hour!
Tasty dishes like this easy chicken and chorizo pasta bake are pretty common in our household.
Pasta bakes are also amongst some of my most popular pasta recipes.
For example my chicken broccoli stilton pasta bake has been one of my most clicked on recipes for quite a long time now.
I think it's because chicken pasta bake recipes like this are pretty easy to make. They're also cost effective and extremely comforting.
A family pasta bake is always great for feeding a whole family especially as a midweek meal!
However, this new chorizo pasta bake is just so special.
I mean what's not to like about a big bowl of pasta accompanied with chunks of meaty chicken and delicious chorizo?
Plus this bowl of pasta has been made even more delicious.
It's baked in the oven in a delicious spicy tomato pasta sauce and covered in melted cheese too!
Just look how vibrant and colourful this pasta bake is.
The colours remind me of warm sunny days.
Wouldn't you want a dish like this chicken and chorizo pasta served up on your family dinner table? So bright and appealing?
Especially in the depths of winter. (Although if you ask me it's great for anytime of the year!)
It's just shouting out loud how flavoursome it is. You'll soon be putting any winter blues behind you as you get tucked into this family favourite!
Jump to:
Pasta Bake Ingredients
- Penne Pasta
- Chorizo Sausage
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Red Pepper
- Skimmed Milk
- Plain Flour
- Passata
- Red Chilli Flakes
- Salt & Pepper
- Low Fat Grated Cheddar Cheese
- Fresh Basil
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Penne Pasta - use a tube-shaped pasta if possible like fusilli or rigatoni. Although spiral shapes like fusilli can work too.
- Chorizo Sausage - Use a good quality chorizo. I just use Spanish Chorizo but if you want it spicier then why not use a spicy Chorizo? Or smokier use a smoky chorizo?
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - you could use boneless chopped chicken thighs or even leftover roast chicken.
- Red Pepper - I prefer red for this chorizo pasta bake recipe. But really any kind of bell peppers, green peppers or yellow or orange would be fine.
- Skimmed Milk - use any milk you prefer just bear in mind this might change the nutritional label.
- Plain Flour - use gluten free if you want to make this gluten free.
- Passata - The passata helps to make this into a creamy chicken and chorizo pasta bake without the addition of any cream. You could also use tinned tomato instead.
- Red Chilli Flakes - or red pepper flakes
- Salt & Pepper - freshly grated sea salt and black peppercorns are best for flavour.
- Low Fat Grated Cheddar Cheese - I use low fat cheese to make this a reasonably healthy chicken and chorizo pasta bake. But use full fat grated cheese if you want just bear in mind this might change the nutritional label.
- Fresh Basil - to garnish. You could use a pinch of Italian herbs.
What Is Chorizo?
Chorizo is a seasoned spiced pork sausage used in both Spanish and Mexican cooking.
It is made from chopped pork, red pepper and then seasoned with chilli and paprika.
The main difference in both is that in Mexican chorizo they use fresh pork to make their sausages whilst the Spanish use smoked pork.
As chorizo is quite oily the oil gets released as you fry it. Not only does this mean you don't have to use any additional oil like olive oil in your cooking it gives your recipe an amazing deep flavour!
Equipment
For This Chicken And Chorizo Pasta Bake You May Need….
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This is the basic pasta dish I use.
It's a great low cost but good quality baking and roasting dish.
It's perfect for lasagne, side dishes and desserts. It's dishwasher, freezer and oven safe too.
FAQ's
Hints and Tips For How To Make This Chicken And Chorizo Pasta Bake
- What's the best pasta to use for this pasta bake? I use penne pasta because it's chunky but any kind of pasta like that would do such as rigatoni or fusilli.
- Do you cook pasta before making pasta bake? Yes! But not in all pasta bake recipes. In some pasta bakes, if there’s enough liquid the uncooked pasta will cook. But mostly it’s easier to cook your pasta first.
- How long should you boil pasta before baking? Just follow the pasta packet instructions. You don't want it to be too soft. Following the instructions should mean it is "al dente" and will carry on cooking and getting softer as it bakes.
- What's the best cheese for pasta bake? Something that melts well to make a creamy sauce and lightly browned topping. I just use cheap pre-grated supermarket cheddar cheese.
- Should I peel the chorizo? You can if you want. I don't bother as the skin is made from paper and edible. You really don't notice it.
- How long will this pasta bake keep in the fridge? You can cover and keep this dish in the fridge for a couple of days max.
- Can I make this chorizo pasta bake ahead? Yes you can make it, allow it to cool and pop in the fridge for the next day.
- Can I freeze this pasta bake? Yes. Don't leave it in the fridge for longer than 2 days. If you're not going to eat it within that time frame then portion it up and freeze in individual containers. Just make sure you defrost thoroughly before eating. You can easily re-heat it in the microwave.
- This chicken pasta bake is also excellent served cold and great for taking to work as a packed lunch!
- Can I make this pasta bake dairy free? Yes you'll need to use dairy free alternatives to the milk and cheese. For example soy milk and a dairy free cheese that melts well.
- How to make this chicken and chorizo pasta gluten free? Use a gluten free pasta.
Side Dish Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with pasta bake? Well this creamy chicken chorizo pasta bake is great served with a simple side salad or some steamed broccoli.
It goes really well with my easy healthier coleslaw and my cabbage and radish slaw.
Or you could just add some garlic bread too if you wanted but it is pretty filling in itself!
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Other Popular Pasta Bake Recipes You Might Also Like
📋 Chicken and Chorizo Pasta Bake Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 200 g penne pasta
- 100 g chorizo sausage chopped
- 450 g chicken breast fillets chopped into bite size pieces
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 300 ml skimmed milk
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 300 g passata
- ½ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes optional
- Freshly ground salt and pepper
- 75 g low fat grated cheddar cheese
- 1 handful Fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 180C Fan.
- Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, stir in the pasta and return to the boil. Turn down to simmer for 8 minutes. Then drain and set aside.
- Whilst the pasta is cooking, in a large pan, heat the chorizo to release its fat for about 4 - 5 minutes then remove the chorizo with a slotted spoon. Leave the fat and juices in the pot.
- Add the chicken and cook in the chorizo juices stirring until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the red pepper and cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Stir Chorizo back in and then remove from pan from the heat.
- Add the milk and flour into a medium sized saucepan. Bring the mixture to the boil, then turn it down to simmer and whisk it thoroughly until you have a smooth and thickened white sauce. Then stir in the passata and chilli flakes. Simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Season to taste.
- Add drained pasta and sauce to the large pan containing the chicken and chorizo and mix well.
- Pour the contents of the large pan into an oven proof dish, sprinkle with the cheese and place onto the middle shelf of your oven.
- Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until the cheese has browned slightly and is bubbling.
- Once cooked, serve with chopped basil sprinkled on top.
Nutrition
Nutrition Label
Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.
Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made this chicken chorizo pasta recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
David @ Spiced
You can definitely say that again about being sick of our diets! We're doing well over here, but it's getting old. I love that this pasta bake is totally reasonable in the calorie count. That makes it a perfect option for these cold January days! Pass me a plate, please!
Neil
Thanks David! Yes there's lots of warm hearty flavours in this pasta bake to cheer us all up this January. Plus as you say it's not too bad on the calorie count either. 🙂
Ron
Howdy Neil, I hope you guys enjoyed your break. Pasta bakes are in our regular rotation, but I've not made a chicken and chorizo pasta bake. I will remedy that soon. Also, thanks for the link to your Chicken broccoli stilton pasta bake as that one sounds awesome as well.
We always freeze our leftover pasta bakes. I freeze them into a block and then vacuum pack them. They keep for weeks and weeks. When ready for a fast meal, I turn the sous vide machine to 60C and pop the frozen leftover vacuum bagged pasta bake in the water bath for an hour or two. Bingo, just open the bag and slide out the warm pasta bake from the bag and Bob's your uncle...
Neil
Thanks Ron! Yes, Lynne and I had an excellent break. We miss the light and heat. You really notice the light when you come back to Scotland. It's so dark under the clouds in winter.
Glad you like the recipe. And yes that chicken broccoli bake is delicious too. Your pasta bake rotation system sounds very like mine. Ha ha! 😀
Mimi
This is wonderful. I love chicken together with any kind of sausage, but chorizo is really special! Can’t wait to put this pasta bake together!
Neil
Chicken and sausage (of any kind) do go together really well don't they Mimi?
Thanks and I hope you get a chance to make and enjoy this pasta bake as much as Lynne and I do.
Kelly | Foodtasia
Neil, I'm so craving this pasta bake! So much flavor with the chorizo and that yummy sauce. And of course the cheese! Perfection!
Neil
Thanks Kelly. Yes, you can't miss out the cheese can you? Well you could but then it really wouldn't be quite as tasty! 😉
sherry
i do love a bake! chicken and chorizo sounds good.
Neil
Thank you Sherry. Glad you like my recipe and hope you get a chance to make it! 😀
Jeff the Chef
This is a great recipe. Thanks for the tip about eating it cold. Taking leftovers to work is very big in my book.
Neil
Me too Jeff. If I can avoid having to make something seperate for work, or having to defrost some soup by taking leftovers instead, then it's a "win win" situation as far as I'm concerned!!
Saif
This pasta looks delicious. Will the taste be different if I use other kinds of milk instead of skimmed milk?
Neil
Hi Saif, you could use full fat milk no problems. That just means the recipe would be slightly richer and have more calories. I wouldn't use any other kinds of milk like almond or soya milk to create the cheese sauce, no.
Laura
Neil, this looks and sounds super-tasty! I really appreciate how you portion the less healthy ingredients to add flavor without overdoing the fat and calories! Well done, I love this recipe!
Neil
Thanks Laura! A small bit of Chorizo goes such a long way. 🙂
Shannon
Yessssss! What a great idea! Pasta bakes are so much fun, and your Chicken Chorizo one looks particularly amazing! I always love and appreciate meals that come together quickly, so the fact that this deliciousness can be on the table in an hour makes it even more perfect! Your pictures are absolutely mouthwatering YUM! Another fabulous recipe Neil!
Neil
I must admit Shannon, that Lynne and I could quite happily live on Pasta Bakes! My freezer always has some portions of my previous pasta bakes frozen in there. I just find pasta bakes easy and less time consuming to make. As well as being delicious of course. Glad you like my recipe. Thank you! 🙂
Matt - Total Feasts
I do like a pasta bake, but I've never actually made one from scratch properly (and I rarely have them, as I don't like the jarred sauces). This looks delicious, and something I'd hoover down in a heartbeat, as would my kids. Pinning for later!
Neil
I think your kids would love this Matt, thanks!
And agreed. I'm not a fan of jarred sauces either. I don't trust what's in them!
Amber
Made this tonight and it was great, thank you!
Neil
Yay! Thanks Amber. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Walden
This was really tasty, only thing I changed was to make with gluten free pasta & full fat cheddar 🤦
Neil
Thanks so much for trying out my chicken and chorizo pasta bake recipe Amber. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it, and it's great to know that it worked well with gluten-free pasta and full-fat cheddar. Your adaptation sounds delicious! 😊