Taking a bite of Comforting Chicken Penne Casserole is like wrapping a warm blanket around your soul; it’s exactly what you need on a cold winter night! The penne pasta is tender-cooked and saturated in a rich, seasoned, homemade tomato sauce, making this casserole extra heartening. Comforting Chicken Penne Casserole has a deeply savory chicken flavor with just a hint of garden brightness from fresh bell peppers, creating a delightful variety of tastes in every bite. This cheesy dinner nourishes body and spirit alike to bring a long day to a refreshing close!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 pound chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet red pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
- 1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated and divided
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
Step 3 –Cook the pasta according to package directions.
Step 4 –While the pasta cooks heat the canola oil in a large saucepan on the stove-top over medium heat.
Step 5 –Add the chicken, onion, green pepper, red pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, salt, and red pepper flakes.
Step 6 –Sauté until the chicken is no longer pink.
Step 7 –Add the garlic to the saucepan and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 8 –In a blender, pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Cover the blender and pulse until well-blended.
Step 9 –Add the tomato mixture to the sautéed chicken mixture in the saucepan, mixing to combine.
Step 10 –Stir in the chicken broth.
Step 11 –Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture in the saucepan to a boil.
Step 12 –Reduce the heat, cover, and let the mixture simmer until slightly thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
Step 13 –Drain the pasta and toss it with the chicken mixture.
Step 14 –Spoon half the chicken pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 15 –Sprinkle the mixture in the baking dish with half the mozzarella and half the Romano cheeses. Repeat the layers in the baking dish.
Step 16 –Cover the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.
Step 17 –Uncover the baking dish and bake until heated through, for about 15-20 minutes. Serve hot!
