Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni – CRAZY good! The whole family cleaned their plates and went back for seconds! Such an easy weeknight casserole recipe! Can make ahead and refrigerate or freeze for later too! Chicken, rigatoni, cheese soup, evaporated milk, heavy cream, garlic mozzarella, and cream of chicken soup. SO good! I wanted to faceplant into the casserole dish!! LOL! #chicken #casserole #cheese #pasta
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Pin This RecipeEasy Chicken Pasta Casserole
Stop what you are doing and get the ingredients to make this Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni right now! This is seriously delicious!! Like, I want to face plant into the casserole dish delicious. I am already planning on making this again next week. We just can’t seem to get enough of it!! Serve this with a salad and some bread and WOW! Better than any restaurant!
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni
This Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni only takes a few minutes to whip together and is ready to eat in under an hour. I used rotisserie chicken in this casserole to cut down on time. I made the quick cheese sauce while the pasta boiled and then just tossed everything together. Super easy!
- I use rotisserie chicken in this casserole.
- Here is our recipe for Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken: https://www.plainchicken.com/slow-cooker-rotisserie-chicken/
- Feel free to add some mushrooms and spinach to the casserole.
- Can Cheesy Rigatoni be made in advance? Yes! You can make this casserole ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Can Cheesy Rigatoni be frozen? Yes! You can freeze the casserole unbaked for an easy meal later. To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed.
- To freeze the baked casserole, cool the casserole completely. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. To reheat, thaw, and baked covered in the oven until heated through.
- This makes a lot of pasta. Feel free to split the casserole between two 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch pans and bake one and freeze one for later.
What to Serve with Baked Chicken Pasta
This Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni is definitely a new favorite in our house. It is hard to beat warm cheesy chicken and pasta. YUM! Comfort food at its best!! It makes a ton. It would be perfect for a crowd! All you need is a salad and some bread and dinner is done.
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Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni
Ingredients:
- 12- oz Rigatoni (4-½ cups dry)
- 4 cups cooked chopped chicken
- 1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Cheese Sauce
- 1 (10.5-oz) can cheese soup
- 1 (5-oz) can evaporated milk
- 1¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- In a large saucepan, combine cheese soup, evaporated milk, heavy cream and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until sauce comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 to 7 minutes, until sauce thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and pepper.
- In a large bowl combine cooked pasta, cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup and cheese sauce.
- Spoon pasta into prepared dish. Sprinkle casserole with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is golden brown.
Notes:
- I use rotisserie chicken in this casserole.
- Here is our recipe for Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken: https://www.plainchicken.com/slow-cooker-rotisserie-chicken/
- Feel free to add some mushrooms and spinach to the casserole.
- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup in this dish to control the sodium.
- You can buy it by the case at Amazon: https://amzn.to/49n4uZE
- Need Gluten-free Cream of Chicken Soup? You can buy it here: https://amzn.to/3MtqQ1s
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-cream-of-chicken-soup/
- Can Cheesy Rigatoni be made in advance? Yes! You can make this casserole ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Can Cheesy Rigatoni be frozen? Yes! You can freeze the casserole unbaked for an easy meal later. To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed.
- To freeze the baked casserole, cool the casserole completely. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. To reheat, thaw, and baked covered in the oven until heated through.
- This makes a lot of pasta. Feel free to split the casserole between two 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch pans and bake one and freeze one for later.
Steph
Remember this recipe.
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Pin This Recipe
This recipe is a most try. You’ll love it! Delicious! We all had seconds. I will definitely repeat again in the future. 👍🏻👍🏻
Made this for dinner tonight,A+++,will be making again!!
Does it matter what kind of pasta you use? Baking the pasta for 45 mins after boiling it won’t make it mushy or hard?
We don’t think it is mushy or hard, but cook it however long you wish.
Do I use can soups as is or add water to them ?
use only the can of soup – do NOT add any liquid that isn’t called for in the recipe.
Can take a lot more than an hour to make if you’re not a professional. I mean I don’t cook very often so it took me about two hours all together.. but it was worth it
How man servings in this recipe?
Looks yummy! Is the parmesan cheese from a bottle, or is it shredded?
either is just fine
Looks yummy! Is this parmesan cheese from a bottle? Or is it shredded?
Can I not use parmesan
Would elbow macaroni work ok instead of rigatoni?
I haven’t tried this with macaroni. You may need more macaroni than rigatoni since it is a smaller noodle. You will just have just have to use your best judgment on the amount of pasta.
Can I prepare the casserole ahead, and keep in the fridge until ready to bake?
Yes – enjoy!
I made this last Sunday, VERY GOOD, definitely a keeper
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I need to feed approximately 23 people. Would this be enough or should I double the recipe?
I would probably do 2-1/2 or 3 of the recipe – Enjoy!
Cant wait to try this. If i wanted to add spinach, would i usefresh or frozen? Should it just be added to the mix?
Cant wait to try this. If i wanted to add spinach, should i use fresh or frozen? Does it just get added with the mix?
I would use frozen. Make sure to thaw and drain the water out really good. I press it between paper towels and really ring it out. Just add it to the pasta mixture before putting it in the pan. Enjoy!
How much spinach
Since that would be your own addition, it is up to you. I would start with one packet of frozen chopped spinach, but again, it is up to you.
I don’t have cheese soup. What would be a good substitute?
So so good!! Whole family loved it and that does not come easy in our house. Thank you for the recipe!
YAY!! SO glad to hear it was a success!
What is a substitute for a can of cheese soup.???
Not sure. I used the can of Campbell's Cheese Soup and it was perfect.
I think she might mean Cheddar Cheese Soup?