Chicken Pasta Bake
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A simple pasta tray bake with a creamy tomato sauce with basil and left over chicken
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 2 -4 persons
Ingredients
For The Oven Roastem Tomatoes
  • 4 Tomatoes, halved
  • Sea/Rock Salt
  • Thyme
  • Olive Oil
For the Tomato Sauce
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp dried chilli flakes (optional or reduce amount)
  • ½ tsp tomato puree
  • 100 ml Marasala (optional)
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 4 Oven Roasted tomatoes (above) puréed
  • 250g tomato passata or 1 tin chopped tomatoes
  • ½ cup water
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • ¼ tsp dried thyme
  • Large handful of fresh basil, roughly chopped
  • 1 large teaspoon cream cheese
  • 1 heaped handful of red Leicester cheese (or cheddar cheese)
Other Ingredients
  • 250g Penne, Macaroni or other Pasta (we used Macaroni)
  • Cooked chicken pieces
  • 125g mozarella cheese
  • 50g parmesan cheese
Instructions
Roast the tomatoes
  1. Halve the tomatoes, springle with salt, fresh thyme and olive oil.
  2. Roast in a medium/hot oven (180 Degrees C) for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour
  3. Allow to cool then puree in a blender oven roast the tomatoes ready for the pasta bake sauce
Prepare the pasta
  1. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according the the pack instructions. Leave slightly Al dente (about 2 minutes from full cooking time as it will bake in the sauce).
  2. Sieve and drizzle and mix with olive oil to stop the pasta sticking together Cook the pasta ready for the pasta bake
Prepare the tomato sauce
  1. Warm 2 tbsp olive oil and add the onions. Soften for about 5 minutes
  2. Add the garlic and fry for a further 1 minute
  3. Add the dry chilli flakes and the tomato puree and fry for 1 minute
  4. Add the Marsala wine and allow to cook off for a further minute Fry the onions and garlic for the pasta bake recipe
  5. Add the pureed roasted tomatoes, passata, water, sugar, oregano, basil and thyme
  6. Stir well and taste for seasoning then decide how much salt and pepper to add Add the roasted tomatoes - chicken Pasta bake recipe
  7. Allow the sauce to cook and reduce for about 10-15 minutes until it has thickened up a bit (dont let it get too thick, if it does, add more water)
  8. Turn off the heat and allow to cool slightly, then blend until smooth
  9. Return the blended tomato sauce back to the pan and turn on the heat.
  10. Once back to temperature add the 2 cheeses and stir well until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy.Puree the sauce then add the Philadelphia cheese and cheddar cheese = chicken pasta bake recipe
  11. Take off one or two ladles of sauce and set aside for topping later
  12. Add the chicken, basil and stir through.
  13. Add the pasta and mix well
  14. Fill your baking dish with the pasta mixture then top with the remaining sauce
  15. Liberally sprinkle over the mozzarella, followed by the parmesan
  16. Bake for 10-20 minutes on a medium oven until the cheese has melted and is golden. bake the chicken pasta bake recipe
  17. Finally sprinkle over a few more roughly chopped pieces of basil and serve alone or as a side dish
Recipe by MongolianKitchen.com at https://mongoliankitchen.com/chicken-pasta-bake/