Description
Texas bbq chicken pasta bake brings together smoky flavors and comforting pasta that satisfies your dinner table with minimal fuss. Shredded chicken mixed with tangy barbecue sauce, melted cheese, and tender pasta creates a dish where your family gets real, authentic comfort in one delicious casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Pasta:
- 300 grams cooked pasta
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Sauce and Cheese:
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it reaches temperature while you prepare the other components.
- Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into a skillet and turn the heat to medium, then add your 1/2 cup diced red onion and 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper to the pan.
- Let the vegetables cook for 3 to 5 minutes until they become tender, then season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Grab a large bowl and combine your 300 grams cooked pasta, 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, the sautéed vegetables, and 1 cup barbecue sauce together, stirring until everything gets evenly coated with the sauce.
- Spread a light coating of oil or cooking spray inside a 9 by 13 inch baking dish, then transfer your pasta mixture into it and level the top.
- Distribute 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese across the surface of your mixture.
- Place the baking dish in your 350°F (175°C) oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese bubbles and turns golden brown on top.
- Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes so the filling sets slightly.
- Sprinkle your 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro over the top just before serving.
Notes
- Cook your pasta one minute under the package time since it continues cooking in the oven and stays tender rather than turning mushy.
- Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store saves time, but shredded cooked chicken breast or thighs work just as well for this dish.
- If your barbecue sauce is quite thin, drain some liquid from the pasta before mixing it in so the bake doesn’t become watery.
- For a healthier version, use whole wheat pasta and mix in some diced zucchini or mushrooms with your sautéed peppers and onions.
- A combination of cheddar and smoked gouda cheese gives your bake deeper flavor if that’s something your family enjoys.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 422 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg