Easy Ground Chicken and Pasta Recipe
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Ground chicken and pasta casserole is an easy one-pot meal that’s made with simple ingredients such as lean ground chicken, fresh vegetables, pasta, and melted cheese. It’s a lighter take on classic comfort food that’s ready in under an hour, and perfect for a weeknight dinner when you don’t have a lot of time to cook.
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This is one of those easy dinners that I usually make the night before heading to the supermarket because it’s an excellent way to clean out what’s left in my fridge before adding new food. This casserole is often served with a simple salad to make it a completely healthy meal for a fast weeknight dinner.
Recipe Highlights
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Total Time: 45Minutes
Serves: 4
- Quick – Thanks to ground chicken and fresh vegetables that cook quickly, you can have dinner in the table in less than an hour.
- Light Comfort Food – You get the comfort of a casserole with a lighter feel.
Ingredient Notes
- Lean Ground Chicken: Ground turkey, beef, or pork also work well. You can even use cooked leftover chicken.
- Pasta: I like to use rotini, but other shapes like fussili, rigatoni, penne pasta or another shape with ridges or curves to help hold the sauce and cheese.
- Diced Tomatoes: I like to use fresh, but canned diced tomatoes are convenient and will work too. I like to use fresh plum or cherry tomatoes.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese , or a blend of your favorite cheeses all work well.
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How to Make Ground Chicken Pasta Casserole
- Prepare: Chop the onion, tomatoes, and spinach. Grate the cheese, cook the pasta according to the package directions, and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook the chicken: Heat the oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the ground chicken and cook, breaking it apart, until it is fully cooked through.
- Soften the vegetables: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onions and tomatoes and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the onions begin to soften.
- Add the pasta: Drain the cooked pasta and stir it into the skillet with the chicken mixture.
- Mix in spinach and cheese: Turn off the heat and stir in the chopped spinach and cheese. The spinach should begin to wilt from the heat. Sprinkle a little extra cheese over the top.
- Bake the casserole: Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot and bubbly.
- Use a baking dish if needed: If your skillet is not oven-safe, lightly grease a baking dish and transfer the mixture before adding the spinach and cheese. Then bake as directed.
NOTE: If you don’t have an ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven, coat a baking dish with non-stick spray or oil and transfer the chicken mixture to the baking dish. Add the spinach and cheese and bake.
Change it Up
- Italian Style – Skip the spinach and add diced zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, or a mix. Use mozzarella and Parmesan instead of cheddar, and season with a little Italian seasoning.
Try this combo: zucchini + mushrooms + mozzarella + Parmesan. - Mediterranean Style – Replace the cheddar with feta cheese and add sliced kalamata olives. Finish with oregano or a little fresh parsley.
- Spicy Version – Stir hot sauce, cayenne, or red pepper flakes into the chicken mixture for extra heat.
- Change the Vegetables – Instead of spinach, use diced bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, or whatever needs to be used up in the fridge.
- Creamy – for an extra creamy version add up to a quarter cup of heavy cream with the cheese.
- Make It Vegetarian – Leave out the chicken and use extra vegetables such as zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, and peppers. You can also add white beans or chickpeas for protein.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover ground chicken casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or warm larger portions in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a side of roasted vegetables, green beans or a salad for a complete meal.
For extra flavor, top with fresh basil, parsley, or a little extra Parmesan.
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Easy Ground Chicken Casserole with Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound ground chicken breast
- 6 ounces pasta uncooked
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach packed
- 3 ounces of cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Cook 6 ounces pasta uncookedaccording to the package instructions, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot add 1/2 pound ground chicken breast and cook until the chicken is cooked through.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add 1 cup diced tomatoes and 1/4 cup diced onion cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the onions begin to soften.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the cooked chicken mixture.
- Turn off the heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach chopped and 3 ounces of cheddar cheese. Sprinkle a little more cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 10 minutes uncovered until the cheese melts and the casserole is heated through.
Notes
- Drain the tomatoes and pat the spinach dry after rinsing to cut back on moisture.
- Prevent soggy pasta by not overcooking it; drain and rinse it once it is al dente (which should be about 8 minutes of cooking time).
- Freeze leftovers in portions for easy leftover meals.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
You can use frozen spinach to make this casserole, but be sure to thaw it and drain it thoroughly before adding it to the pasta to prevent excess moisture in the casserole.
This casserole freezes well for up to 3 months in an airtight freezer-safe container. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, or reheat it from frozen in the oven until fully heated.
You can assemble the casserole ahead and refrigerate it before baking. When you’re ready to cook, bake until it’s hot all the way through and the cheese has melted.
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It was good, but 1/2 lb of chicken for 4 people?
Hi David, thanks for your comment. The chicken is there to complement the pasta and vegetables. If you prefer more meat, by all means, add more!