This easy creamy chicken pasta bake is made with no actual cream but still tastes all creamy and cheesy. Comfort food all the family will love!
Yes you read that correctly. This easy creamy chicken pasta bake is made with no actual cream. Just a tomato and creamy cheese based sauce!
We love pasta bakes in our household, they're cheap and easy recipes to make.
Judging by the numbers of views on a similar recipes, like the chicken and chorizo pasta bake, so do you folks!
So today here's a delicious new recipe for you to add to your list of pasta recipes.
This one is nice and filling and the creamy cheese sauce means it's great for those picky eaters!
This easy creamy chicken pasta bake is low in calories at just 288 calories per serving.
It's also low in fat. You could serve it with some simple vegetables like broccoli and sweetcorn as I have, or a simple tossed salad. Or even just some crusty bread.
It's the perfect comfort food when you're craving carbs but still want to have something reasonably healthy.
The tomato pasta sauce tastes amazing. The mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese making a wonderful cream sauce.
If you want you could spice the sauce up a little by adding a little chilli powder.
This is definately a pasta dish that the whole family will enjoy!
And if you enjoyed this then why not check out my other chicken and pasta delicious recipes below!
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Penne Pasta
- Olive Oil
- Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast Fillets
- Onion
- Red Pepper
- Skimmed Milk
- Plain Flour
- Tomato Passata
- Low Fat Cream Cheese
- Freshly Ground Salt and Black Pepper
- Low Fat Grated Cheddar Cheese
- Grated Mozzarella
- Chopped Fresh Parsley (optional for garnish)
See recipe card for quantities.
Step By Step Instructions
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this creamy chicken pasta bake recipe:
Steps 1 & 2
- Pre-heat oven to 180C Fan.
- Cook pasta until al dente.
Step 3
- Whilst pasta cooks, cook chunks of chicken in olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat until no longer pink inside.
Step 3 cont
- Use a slotted spoon to remove chicken to a casserole dish.
Step 4
- Sauté onion and pepper in remaining olive oil.
Step 4 cont
- Mix cooked onion and pepper in with cooked chicken.
Step 5
- Make a white sauce then stir in the passata and cream cheese to create the creamy sauce. Season to taste.
Step 6
- Drain pasta, add to the casserole dish, mix well.
Step 6 cont
- Add the sauce. Top with cheddar cheese, mozzarella and parsley.
Step 6 cont
- Place onto the middle shelf of your oven.
- Bake until cheese has browned slightly and is bubbling.
Substitutions
- Penne Pasta - I use whole wheat pasta. If you can't get penne you could also use fusilli or rigatoni.
- Olive Oil
- Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast Fillets - you could also use rotisserie chicken. This recipe is also a great way to use up any leftover chicken.
- Onion
- Red Pepper - use any kind of bell peppers.
- Skimmed Milk - semi skimmed milk or whole milk is fine but will alter the nutritional label.
- Plain Flour
- Tomato Passata
- Low Fat Cream Cheese - full fat is fine but will alter the nutritional label.
- Freshly Ground Salt and Black Pepper
- Low Fat Grated Cheddar Cheese - full fat is fine but will alter the nutritional label.
- Grated Mozzarella - I use full fat here for it's added creaminess. Lower fat might not make as good a cheesy sauce.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley (optional for garnish) - you could use other fresh herbs like coriander.
Equipment
For This Creamy Pasta Bake Recipe You May Need….
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).
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This is the large oven-proof baking 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.
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FAQ's
Can I Make It Ahead?
Yes. Follow the steps above to step 6 prior to baking. Cover with foil and keep in fridge for up to one day. Remove from fridge and allow to return to room temperature prior to baking.
Can I Freeze Chicken Pasta Bake?
Yes. Once cooked allow it to cool completely first. You can freeze it whole or cut it into individual portions and store in airtight containers as I do.
How To Reheat This Pasta Bake?
Defrost in the fridge overnight. You can reheat in your oven or in your microwave.
Other Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake Recipes For You To Try
📋 Easy Creamy Chicken 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
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 500 g chicken breast fillets chopped into bite size pieces
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 red pepper diced
- 300 ml skimmed milk
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 300 g passata
- 75 g low fat cream cheese
- Freshly ground salt and pepper
- 75 g low fat grated cheddar cheese
- 25 g grated mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley 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. Set aside.
- Whilst the pasta is cooking, in a large non-stick pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, add the chicken and cook until chicken is no longer pink inside, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove chicken to a casserole dish.
- Add the remaining olive oil. Heat gently, add the onion and pepper and sauté for 4 -5 minutes until softened then add to the casserole dish.
- 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 cream cheese. Simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce is thickened and creamy. Season to taste.
- Drain pasta, add to the casserole dish with the sauce and mix well. Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese, mozzarella and parsley and place onto the middle shelf of your oven.
- Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until the cheese has browned slightly and is bubbling.
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 creamy chicken pasta bake 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! 🙂
angiesrecipes
An ultimate comfort treat! I can't take my eyes off from that cheesy topping...simply mouthwatering!
angiesrecipes
Neil
Ha ha! Thanks Angie. Yep, I think that cheesy topping is a real winner. Well, it is in our house anyway!
Charlie DeSando
When I saw the picture of broccoli and corn, I thought that was going in the recipe. I was happy to see they were merely on the side. Well done!
Neil
Thank you very much Charlie. You can pretty much choose your own sides with this recipe but I always like to picture the recipe with our favourites sides that we think go best with it!
Sherry M
this sounds very comforting and delicious Neil. I don't eat pasta usually but this looks like such a hearty and tasty meal.
Neil
Thanks Sherry! It's definitely and hearty tasty meal. If I'm making something with pasta, it'll like be something like this!
Ron
Thanks for a great lower-fat pasta bake recipe. Looks very tasty and fits right in with the weather we have coming.
Neil
Comford foods are IN for us at the moment. Thanks Ron!
David @ Spiced
Wow, great job creating a creamy pasta bake that isn't too bad on the calories side! Cream cheese is a secret ingredient when it comes to creamy pastas, and I absolutely love the sound of this one. It's the kind of comfort food dish that I want to curl up with on a cold winter night!
Neil
I think we're getting quite close to cold winters nights here David. Although I haven't touched that heating dial yet, it's long sleeved tops and jumpers all the way.
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!
I love baked pasta, and chicken is one of my favorite proteins, so ... yes!
Neil
Thanks Jeff!
Michelle
A baked pasta is always good any time! Love how creamy this one is -- great idea using cream cheese!
Neil
To be honest Michelle, I can't remember the last time I used actual cream (except in my cheesecake's!). It's always cream cheese for us, even if I'm doing someone else's recipe and the recipe calls for cream, I'll still substitute it with cream cheese. Thanks for your comment!
Chef Mimi
This looks wonderful! Although I could lose a few pounds, I’d just go ahead and use cream!!!
Neil
Quite right Mimi. Feel free to use cream if you want to. Enjoy! 🙂
velva
This looks delicious. Perfect for a busy weeknight meal. Love it. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Velva
Neil
You've welcome Velva! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Raymund | angsarap.net
They do look creamy indeed, this is my type of pasta
Neil
Thank you Raymund. Everyone seems to be loving my cheap and cheerful easy to make pasta meals at the moment.