Comforting pasta casserole with tender chicken, basil pesto, and melted mozzarella baked until golden and bubbling.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 10.5 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
→ Chicken
02 - 2 medium chicken breasts (about 12 oz), diced
→ Pesto & Sauce
03 - 0.5 cup basil pesto, store-bought or homemade
04 - 1.25 cups tomato passata or marinara sauce
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Cheese
07 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Seasoning
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
10 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish, optional
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 390°F.
02 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until cooked through and lightly golden. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
04 - Stir in the tomato passata or marinara sauce and half of the pesto. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from heat.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chicken mixture, half of the mozzarella, and remaining pesto. Stir gently until evenly mixed.
06 - Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden and the sauce is bubbling.
08 - Let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil and serving.
