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Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta Bake

Prep 20 min Cook 30 min Difficulty 3/5

Easy creamy chicken and mushroom pasta bake — ready in about 50 minutes. Family-friendly, make-ahead option with practical tips for perfect texture.

Why this recipe works

This Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta Bake is a simple, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner that combines tender chicken, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes and melty cheese. It suits cooks who want a hands-on stovetop-to-oven recipe that scales easily for families or meal prep.

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Key takeaways

Ready in ~50 minutes (20 prep, 30 cook).
Cook pasta just under al dente and use reserved pasta water for creaminess.
Assemble ahead or freeze for easy reheating.

Recipe guide

This Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta Bake is a simple, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner that combines tender chicken, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes and melty cheese. It suits cooks who want a hands-on stovetop-to-oven recipe that scales easily for families or meal prep.

Learn a reliable stovetop-to-oven method for a creamy, family-friendly pasta bake.

  • Ready in ~50 minutes (20 prep, 30 cook).
  • Cook pasta just under al dente and use reserved pasta water for creaminess.
  • Assemble ahead or freeze for easy reheating.

Ingredients (serves 4)

500 g short pasta (penne/ziti), 400 g chicken breasts or thighs (bite-sized), 200 g mushrooms (sliced), 300 g tomatoes (chopped), 200 g grated cheese (mozzarella/cheddar or mix), 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, plus 1 cup reserved pasta water.

Step-by-step

1) Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F. 2) Cook pasta until just under al dente; reserve 1 cup pasta water. 3) Season chicken and brown in olive oil until cooked; set aside. 4) Sauté mushrooms until browned, add garlic 1 minute, then tomatoes; simmer 5–7 minutes and season. 5) Return chicken, add a splash of pasta water. 6) Mix pasta, sauce and half the cheese in a baking dish; add more pasta water if needed. 7) Top with remaining cheese and bake 15–20 minutes until golden. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

Tips & variations

Use short pasta that traps sauce; undercook pasta by 1–2 minutes. Swap cherry tomatoes or a can of crushed tomatoes if preferred. Stir in spinach or peas for veg, or add 100 ml cream for extra richness. For a crisp top, broil 2–3 minutes at the end.

Ingredients

  • 500 g pasta
  • 400 g chicken
  • 300 g tomatoes
  • 200 g cheese
  • 200 g mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until just under al dente, drain and reserve 1 cup pasta water.
  3. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the chicken until cooked through, then remove and set aside.
  5. Thinly slice mushrooms and finely chop garlic.
  6. Add a little more oil to the skillet, sauté mushrooms until browned, then add garlic and cook 1 minute.
  7. Chop tomatoes and add to the skillet, simmer 5–7 minutes until slightly reduced; season with salt and pepper.
  8. Return chicken to the skillet, stir to combine, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
  9. Combine pasta, sauce, and half the cheese in a large bowl or baking dish, mixing evenly; add more pasta water if needed to create a creamy consistency.
  10. Top with remaining cheese and additional black pepper if desired.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
  12. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

FAQs

What pasta works best for this bake? Use short tubular pasta (penne, rigatoni, ziti) — they hold sauce and crisp slightly in the oven.
Can I prepare this ahead or freeze it? Assemble and refrigerate unbaked for up to 24 hours; freeze fully cooled, then bake from frozen adding 10–15 minutes.
Do I need cream for a creamy result? No — reserved pasta water plus cheese and a little olive oil create a silky sauce; add 100 ml cream if you prefer richer texture.