This is one casserole that will make you jump(man)! Mario Brothers Bake is no pipe dream and no mystery box; it’s just good flavor all the way down! Tender bow tie pasta honors the heroic plumbers’ Italian-American heritage, and then gets mixed together with juicy, savory chicken in a creamy, tangy sauce. Oh, and there are plenty of mushrooms! Can’t have a Mario Brothers Bake without beefy mushrooms! Sorry if you have any upbeat video game themes stuck in your head!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) box bow tie pasta
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 cups chicken, cooked and diced
- 1 (32-ounce) container plain low-fat yogurt
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- parsley, optional, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 3 –In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 4 –In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
Step 5 –Add the onions, the celery, and 1 teaspoon of the salt and cook until the veggies are softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 6 –Add the garlic and the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms are soft, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 7 –Sprinkle the flour over the mushroom mixture and stir until the flour is absorbed, about 30 seconds-1 minute.
Step 8 –Add the chicken broth and bring the sauce mixture to a boil.
Step 9 –Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 7-9 minutes.
Step 10 –In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, the chicken, the yogurt, the remaining salt, 1 cup of the cheese, the lemon juice, the Worcestershire sauce, and the pepper and toss to combine.
Step 11 –Add the reduced sauce to the bowl and stir to combine.
Step 12 –Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out into an even layer.
Step 13 –In a small bowl, add the remaining cheese, the panko, and the olive oil and mix to combine.
Step 14 –Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the casserole.
Step 15 –Bake until golden-brown and bubbly, about 45-50 minutes.
Step 16 –Let the bake rest for 5-10 minutes.
Step 17 –Serve garnished with the parsley.
