The Best Ground Chicken and Pasta Recipe
Ground chicken and pasta casserole is filled with lean ground chicken, fresh veggies, and cheese. It is an affordable healthy meal that can be ready in less than one hour. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and the entire family will love it.
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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.
🤍Why you will love this recipe
- It’s versatile! You can change up the meat, the veggies, and the flavors of this casserole. See the suggestions below.
- It’s practically made in one pan, which means quick clean-up for an easy family dinner.
- It’s economical and healthy! Filled simple ingredients such as vegetables, lean chicken, and whole wheat pasta.
Here is What You Will Need
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This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this ground chicken recipe, scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and instructions.
🛒Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Lean Ground Chicken Breast
- Whole Wheat Pasta
- Diced Tomatoes
- Onion
- Fresh Spinach
- Cheddar Cheese
🥄Equipment
- Saucepan to cook the pasta
- Cheese Grater to shred the cheese
- Kitchen Knife to cut the vegetables
- Large Skillet or Dutch oven
How to make this ground chicken and pasta recipe
Prepare: chop the onions, tomatoes, and spinach. Grate the cheese and start cooking the pasta according to the package instructions. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
STEP 1: Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot add the chicken and cook until the chicken is cooked through.
STEP 2: Reduce to medium heat and add the tomatoes and onions. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the onions begin to soften.
STEP 3: Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the cooked chicken mixture.
STEP 4: Turn the heat off and stir in the chopped spinach and the cheese. At this point, the spinach should start to wilt. Sprinkle additional cheese over the top.
STEP 5: Place the skillet into the oven and bake for 10 minutes, until cheese melts and casserole is heated through.
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.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Ground Chicken can be replaced with and type of ground meat such as ground turkey, ground beef, or ground pork. You can also use leftover chopped chicken or rotisserie chicken in this recipe.
Diced tomatoes – I like to use fresh tomatoes when they are available, you can also use an equal amount of canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, or marinara sauce for a thicker tomato base.
Pasta – We like small-shaped pasta, such as baby shells or elbows in this pasta casserole, but any kind of your favorite pasta will work such as rigatoni pasta or penne pasta.
Cheese – Look for a good quality cheddar cheese to toss in this pasta. You can also use provolone or fresh mozzarella or a combination of cheeses. Experiment with different types of cheese to see which works best for you.
Make Ahead Instructions
This is a great recipe for meal prep! You can assemble the entire casserole without the cheese and refrigerate it for up to two days.
When it’s time to serve it, bring the casserole to room temperature, add the shredded cheese and bake it.
Alternatively, you can cook the chicken and vegetables ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to four days. When it’s time to serve it, bring the chicken and vegetables to room temperature, cook the pasta, assemble the casserole and bake until heated through and the cheese has melted.
Recipe Variations
This delicious dinner casserole is so versatile; here are a few suggestions to change it up:
Italian Ground Chicken Pasta Casserole. Leave out the spinach and add 3/4 cup diced cooked eggplant, mushrooms or zucchini. Replace the cheddar cheese with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Add a little Italian seasoning.
Spicy Chicken Casserole. Add a teaspoon or more of hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the chicken in the skillet.
Mediterranean Ground Chicken Casserole. Replace the cheddar cheese with feta cheese and add 1/4 cup sliced kalamata olives and oregano to taste.
Change up the Veggies. Instead of spinach, use any of your favorite vegetables, such as diced bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms.
Vegetarian Pasta Casserole. Leave out the chicken and use any combination of your favorite vegetables.
For another easy dinner, try this Mexican Ground Chicken and Black Bean Casserole a healthy casserole filled with Mexican Flavors!
How to Store Leftover Ground Chicken Casserole
Refrigerate leftover ground chicken and pasta casserole in an airtight container for up to three days.
Reheat it in the oven or the microwave.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this fantastic dish garnished with fresh basil and a side of roasted vegetables, green beans or a salad for a complete dinner that the whole family will love.
💡Tips
- 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.
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.
Yes, you can freeze this casserole. Once it has cooled off to room temperature place it in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight or reheat in the oven directly from frozen.
You can easily make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta. Also double check the inredients labels such as seasonings or cheese to be sure they are gluten-free.
If you have a question that is not answered above, ask in the comment section below, and I will answer you as soon as I can.
Are you too tired to cook dinner?
If you’re feeling uninspired when it’s time to cook dinner, this free guide will help you make a quick and healthy dinner with ingredients you have in your kitchen.
Try These Easy Ground Chicken Recipes
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Do you like this recipe?
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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 uncooked according 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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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!