Chicken Pasta Casserole

This chicken pasta casserole is the perfect comfort food meal. It's filled with juicy chicken, al dente pasta, tomatoes, and a rich, creamy sauce. The chicken pasta bake is finished off with shredded cheese on top and baked in under 30 minutes!

The Best Chicken Pasta Casserole

This chicken pasta casserole recipe is so simple, yet you'll be amazed by how delicious it is. Comforting, hearty, and satisfying, the results speak for themselves.

The chicken pasta bake has chopped chicken, cooked pasta, tomatoes, and the perfect combination of seasonings, all mixed in a garlic cream sauce. It's all layered in a casserole dish and topped with shredded cheese before being baked to golden brown perfection.

The finished creamy chicken pasta casserole with melty cheese tastes like something you'd get at a restaurant, and it'll be a hit with everyone who tries it!

Lately, it's been one of my go-to casserole recipes. It's the perfect easy recipe for family dinners and works equally well for hosting. Everyone truly will love this delicious casserole, and you serve a showstopping meal by pairing the chicken pasta casserole with this air fryer garlic bread.

Why This Recipe Works

So convenient. This is a great next-day recipe if you have leftover chicken and pasta from the night before. It comes together in minutes, then the casserole just has to bake in the oven. It's that easy!

There's less mess. This recipe only requires one skillet and one baking dish, so you'll have minimal dishes to clean, and the cooking process will be easy to manage too. 

Family favorite. This creamy chicken pasta casserole is one of those recipes that everyone will want on a weekly basis. It's that good! So I can almost guarantee this recipe will find its way into your regular dinner rotation.

Ingredients

Another reason to love this chicken and pasta casserole recipe is it's made with really basic ingredients, and those ingredients are:

• 8 oz. ziti pasta, cooked
• 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
• 8 oz. diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste

By the way, if you're looking for more easy creamy chicken casserole recipes, definitely check out this King Ranch casserole or this chicken and broccoli pasta bake. They're two more of my favorite chicken casserole recipes, so you'll definitely want to give those a try next!

How To Make Chicken Pasta Casserole

1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and spray a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Make the cream sauce: Add the oil and flour to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir for 2-3 minutes, then add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Whisk in the milk and continue to cook, stirring often. Season the sauce with thyme, salt, and black pepper.

3. Finish the sauce: Turn the heat off and whisk in ½ cup of Monterey Jack cheese. Stir until the cheese has fully melted. Add the diced tomatoes and chicken and fold them gently into the sauce to combine.

4. Assemble the casserole: Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish and stir it together with the cooked pasta. Top the casserole with the remaining Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese.

5. Bake and serve: Bake chicken pasta casserole, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes. Remove the baked pasta from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Then, serve with chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Stir in ½ cup of sour cream for an even creamier, richer casserole.
• Switch up the cheese. Use shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, or whatever cheese you have on hand.
• Use other types of pasta, like penne pasta, spaghetti, or fusilli pasta, for a different flavor and texture.
• Cook chicken and pasta the night before for a quick and easy dinner. You can also use a rotisserie chicken to make it more convenient. 

How To Store Chicken Pasta Casserole

In the fridge: Put a lid on the baking dish or transfer the leftover chicken pasta casserole to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the freezer: Allow the leftover chicken casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for about 4 months.

Reheating: Transfer the chicken pasta bake back to a baking dish and warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until it's warmed through. Let the frozen casserole thaw in the fridge overnight or add more baking time.

More Recipes

• Chicken cauliflower casserole
• Sour cream chicken
• Southwest chicken casserole
• Dorito chicken casserole
• Cheesy chicken and rice casserole