Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake

This Creamy Chicken Pasta recipe features garden fresh vegetables like spinach and tomatoes tossed in a rich sauce and baked to perfection. It is a lighter version that uses Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream.

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Pasta dinners are always a favorite! Other yummy pasta dishes we love include this Broccoli Pasta, which is a tasty vegetarian option, and this uber-delicious Marry Me Chicken TikTok version. Yum!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It tastes incredible! This recipe is perfectly balanced with creamy, salty, sweet, and spicy flavors all represented.
• This chicken pasta bake is a crowd-pleaser and is an excellent choice for family dinners, gatherings, or potlucks.

Ingredients

Find the complete ingredient list, with measurements, in the recipe card below.

• Penne Pasta – We use gluten-free pasta for allergies.
• Chicken – Cut into bite-sized pieces. We use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but boneless chicken thighs will work too.
• Olive Oil and Butter – For sauteeing the chicken, onions, and garlic.
• Onion and Garlic – This is your aromatic base, and when sauteed, they add depth and sweetness.  
• Cream Cheese – This gives your sauce a thicker and creamier consistency.
• Greek Yogurt – Also adds thickness but with less fat and fewer calories than cream cheese. It also adds protein.
• Milk – To help create a smooth sauce. We use full-fat milk, but you can use 2% to lighten it up if preferred.
• Cheese – We use parmesan in the sauce and a mixture of parmesan and marble to top the pasta before baking.
• Chili Flakes – This is optional, but we like it for a punch of spice to balance out the creaminess.
• Spinach – We use fresh baby spinach.
• Fresh Basil – We love fresh but dried basil works in a pinch.
• Grape or Cherry Tomatoes – These tiny tomatoes roast up perfectly in this dish.

Equipment

• Saucepan – A large saucepan for cooking the noodles.
• Large Frying Pan – We use a large stainless steel skillet for this recipe.
• Casserole Dish – A 9×13 or 9×9 dish will work.

Instructions

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the FULL recipe details.

Step 1

Start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil and cooking your pasta according to the package instructions.

Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside.

Step 2

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink, about 6-7 minutes. Stir every so often. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.

Step 3

Next, reduce the heat to medium-low and add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan.

Add the diced onions and sauté until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and stir for another minute.

Step 4

Then, stir in the cream cheese and reduce the heat to low. Add the Greek yogurt, milk, and parmesan cheese and stir well to blend it all together. Add the spinach, tomatoes, and basil and stir again.

Step 5

Finally, add the cooked chicken and penne and stir until everything is well coated with the sauce.

Step 6

Then, heat the oven to 375.

Grease your casserole dish and pour in the penne mixture.

Step 7

Next, top the penne mixture in the casserole dish with the shredded cheese.

Then pop it into the oven.

Step 8

Then bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is gooey and melted and the tomatoes are soft.

If you like a crustier cheesy top, turn on the broiler and broil the pasta for 2 minutes or so to get that nice browned top.

Funny side note: Joe is always super skeptical, to say the least, about Greek yogurt, and as luck would have it, he meandered into the kitchen just as the yogurt was added to my pan.

He did not look impressed.

I assured him the final product would not taste yogurt-y at all and shooed him out of the kitchen.

Cut to: He loves this pasta. You will too. 🙂

Substitutions

• Swap in a different kind of pasta, like whole wheat pasta or even veggie-based noodles. After putting it to the test, we recommend using penne, rigatoni, or fusilli. These are great because their ridges and holes can hold onto the creamy sauce well.  
• Use fresh parsley instead of the basil.
• Arugula is a great substitute for spinach.
• Make life easy and use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.

Recipe Variations

• You can make it more of an Alfredo sauce by using heavy cream instead of milk and adding fresh ground black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
• Skip the chicken and make this a vegetarian recipe by adding more veggies, such as mushrooms, artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower, and peas.

Serving Suggestions

• Enjoy this dinner with a simple lettuce salad on the side.
• Drizzle balsamic reduction on your bowl of pasta for a tangy and slightly sweet contrast to the creamy sauce. Just remember: a  little goes a long way. Too much can overpower the dish.

FAQS

Storage Tips

To Store: Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days. Cool completely first.

To Reheat: Place in an oven-safe dish and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Cover the dish with foil before popping it in the oven.

We don’t recommend freezing this dish as it changes the texture of the sauce.

More baked casserole recipes

**This recipe was originally posted on July 21, 2015. Updated on August 19, 2019, and again on June 7, 2024, with new recipe notes, writing, and photos.**

If you’ve tried this creamy chicken pasta recipe, please rate it and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!

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