Chicken Asparagus Pasta Bake
This chicken asparagus pasta bake is a simple and light casserole, perfect for spring.
- 1 lb asparagus
- 12 oz short pasta (Note 1)
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (Note 2)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (to taste)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil (divided, Note 3)
- ½ cup Parmesan (freshly grated, divided, Note 4)
- fine sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/ 180°C.
- Preparations: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While you wait for the water to cook, clean the asparagus and remove its lower part. Cut each stalk into 3-4 pieces.1 lb asparagus
- Cook pasta and asparagus in one pot: Once the water boils, add salt generously and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Add the asparagus to the pasta pot during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain well. 12 oz short pasta
- Cut chicken: While the pasta cooks, chop the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- Cook chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pan and cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through for about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. 1 tablespoon olive oil + chicken + ½ teaspoon garlic powder + fine sea salt and black pepper
- Assemble the casserole: Place the drained pasta and asparagus into a casserole dish. Add the chicken cubes, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and half of the Parmesan. Mix well, adjust the taste with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle the dish with the remaining Parmesan (Note 5).
- Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
It's made with six basic ingredients and tastes amazing, something you'll want to cook again and again. You can't go wrong with this recipe for chicken asparagus pasta bake! The chicken stays juicy, the asparagus keeps a bit of bite, and the olive oil and Parmesan bring everything together without needing a heavy sauce.
If you want more light asparagus dishes, you can try an Asparagus Chicken Soup, or keep things simpler with Sautéed Asparagus with Garlic. Ingredients: 6 + salt & pepper | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Servings: 4 | Difficulty: Easy
Recipe ingredients
This recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients. For more asparagus recipe ideas, check out this collection of Asparagus Recipes.
Asparagus: Fresh green asparagus with firm stalks. You can use broccoli, peas, cauliflower, or green beans instead of asparagus.
- Make this Asparagus and Salmon Quiche too while asparagus is still in season; it's a perfect dish to serve guests.
Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs. This Chicken and Asparagus is another delicious combination. Pasta: Short pasta like penne, fusilli, or macaroni.
Olive oil: Use good-quality olive oil since the flavor comes through. Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan or Grana Padano.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities. How to make chicken and asparagus bake?
- Step #1: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, and add the asparagus during the last 3 minutes of the cooking time. Drain well.
- Step #2: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cook in a pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil for 3-4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Season with garlic powder.
- Step #3: Place everything in a casserole dish. Add the remaining olive oil and half of the Parmesan. Stir well and adjust the seasoning. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
- Step #4: Bake for about 10 minutes until lightly golden.
Tips
- Use good olive oil, as it gives the dish most of its flavor
- Grate the Parmesan fresh for better melting
- Don't overcook the asparagus; it should stay slightly firm
- Save the woody asparagus ends and use them to make stock for Cream of Asparagus Soup with Milk or Pea and Asparagus Risotto.
Make in advance, store & reheat
Make in advance: Assemble the dish, let it cool, cover, and refrigerate. Bake when ready, adding 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
Refrigerate leftovers for 2-3 days and reheat in the oven or microwave. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Defrost in the fridge and reheat before serving.
Equipment
- Baking dish
Notes
- Pasta: Any short pasta shapes are fine, for instance, fusilli, rigatoni, short ribbons, macaroni, etc.
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are also great, but increase the cooking time slightly and ensure they are cooked through.
- Parmesan: Always use freshly grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains additives that prevent it from melting nicely.
- Olive oil: Choose a pleasant-tasting oil. If the olive oil is too bitter, you might be able to taste it in the dish.
- Make in advance: Let the food cool completely, cover the dish, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Bake as instructed, adding 5-10 minutes to the baking time if cooking from chilled. Check that the food is heated through in the middle. If not, give it 5 more minutes and check again.
