Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake {SO EASY!}

A big pot of chicken and bacon pasta bake with broccoli and cheese on top.

4.91 from 61 votes

Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake {SO EASY!}

This easy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake recipe is a delicious and healthy dinner for all the family. The simple creamy sauce is packed with vegetables and bacon and topped with cheese.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Family Food

Servings: People

Author: Sarah Rossi

Ingredients

300 g Pasta
1 tsp Olive oil
200 g Bacon Chopped into small pieces
300 g Chicken breast chunks About x2 large chicken breasts
3 Cloves garlic Peeled and crushed
1 Large onion Peeled and chopped into chunks
300 g Broccoli (Whole head) Chopped into small chunks
500 ml Milk
2 tbsp Plain flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
150 g Cheese See notes
1 tsp Wholegrain mustard Optional

Instructions

Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water, set a timer for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the bacon and cook for 5 minutes until starting to brown.
When the timer goes off for the pasta add the broccoli and cook for a further 6 minutes until both the pasta and broccoli are cooked. Drain and set aside.
Add the chicken to the bacon and fry for a further 5 minutes until coloured all over.
Add the onions, garlic and cook until just softened and the chicken is cooked through. About 10 minutes.
Sprinkle the flour into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes stirring so everything is well coated.
Pour in the milk.
Add half of the cheese to the meat and sauce, plus salt and pepper, and stir well.
Preheat the grill.
Add the drained, cooked pasta and broccoli to the sauce and sprinkle the cheese on top.
Put under the grill for about 10 minutes until crispy and bubbling.

Notes

Cheese: You can use whichever cheese you like to top your chicken pasta bake. I like to use half mozzarella, for streeeeeeetchy-ness (is that a word?) and half cheddar, for flavour.

How to prepare in advance: ‌Prepare up to the end of step 10 in the recipe and then when cold pop into the fridge (covered). When you are ready to eat, preheat the oven to 180C and cook for about 30-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and everything is hot throughout.

Draining: Be sure to drain pasta and broccoli very well so the sauce isn’t watery.

Substitutions: You can omit the bacon for a vegetarian dish, or try using meatballs, sausage, ham or chorizo instead of the chicken and bacon. You can also swap out the broccoli for another vegetable if you prefer (peas would work really well).

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