Cheesy Chicken Pasta Recipe - a weeknight favorite! Chicken and pasta tossed in a quick homemade cheese sauce topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Comfort food at its best! Kids and adults gobble this up! Bow tie pasta, chicken, butter, flour, milk, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, spaghetti sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Can make in advance and refrigerate or freezer for later.
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and place in a large bowl.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Keep whisking until smooth. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat and stir in cheddar cheese until smooth.
Pour cheese sauce over pasta. Stir in cooked chicken. Spoon pasta mixture into a lightly greased 9×13-inch pan. Pour spaghetti sauce over pasta and top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, until bubbly.
Notes:
I use rotisserie chicken in this casserole.
You can use any cooked chicken you have on hand.
Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins, or canned chicken all work fine.
I use bow-tie pasta. Penne pasta also works great.
Can use milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream in the cheese sauce.
Our favorite store-bought spaghetti sauces are Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Rao’s, Carbone, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
Can I make Cheesy Chicken Pasta ahead of time? Yes! You can assemble the casserole in advance and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.
You will need to add 10 to 15 minutes to the cooking time if baking cold straight from the refrigerator.
Can I freeze Cheesy Chicken Pasta? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cool completely. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.