Baked Chicken Pasta

One of the reasons we love a baked pasta is that it’s an easy and filling meal you can prepare to feed a crowd. And while stove top pastas are trusted companions on days we need comfort, the extra step of baking adds that yummy crust on top, giving the dish a little bit of crunch.

Our baked chicken pasta recipe below is spicy and cheesy, flavoured with onion, garlic, tomato, bell pepper, chilli and oregano.

In our recipe we’ve used Rummo Penne Rigate, which we got from one of our partners Euro Store. Rummo is an Italian brand that’s been making pasta for more than 175 years and all this experience is evident both in taste and how evenly the pasta cooks. Rummo has gluten free, whole wheat and organic pastas available too.

Serves: 3-4

Instructions:

• 4 cups water
• 2 cups Rummo Penne Rigate
• 1 ½ tsp. salt (divided)
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• ½ cup diced onion (1 medium onion)
• 1 ½ tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)
• 1 red bell pepper chopped into ½ inch pieces
• 1 cup minced chicken
• ½ tsp. ground black pepper
• 9 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tbsp. chili sauce
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• ½ cup + 2 tbsp. cup grated parmesan
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Add the water to a pot and bring it to a boil. When the water starts boiling add the Rummo Penne Rigate and ½ tsp. salt. Boil the pasta for 12 minutes or until al dente.
2. When cooked, save 2/3 cup pasta water for later and then drain the pasta and set it aside.
3. Heat 3 tbsp. of olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and fry for 2 minutes or until soft and then add the bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes or until the bell pepper softens too.
4. Add the chicken, 1 tsp. salt, ground black pepper, and stir fry for 6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
5. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, chilli sauce, and dried oregano, stir to combine and cook for a minute.
6. Then add the cooked pasta along with the reserved pasta cooking water, give it a good mix and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese, stir to combine and cook for another minute.
7. Divide the cooked pasta into two portions and transfer one portion in to a baking tray to make the first pasta layer. We used a 7.5 by 5.5 inch tray. Add ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese on top of the pasta. Then add ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top of the parmesan cheese layer.
8. Make the second layer of pasta by adding the rest of your cooked pasta on top of the mozzarella layer. Then add the parmesan followed by the mozzarella as before.
9. Preheat oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Then bake the pasta for 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.