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Mar
15
2013
Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Bake
Tags: casserole, Dinner, mozzarella cheese, pesto, quick fix dinner, spaghetti
This was such a great weeknight dinner last week. I call it our Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Bake. It’s surely not a looker in photographs, but definitely a no-stress, whip up in no time dinner.
All you’ll need is some spaghetti, pesto, milk, chicken and mozzarella cheese to make this dish. Oh and it’s green, so it’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
Hope you enjoy!
I used the Barilla Whole Grain Spaghetti noodles and the Trader Joe’s prepared pesto, but use whatever you can find at your grocery store.
Pasta shot with my hubby 
Once your pasta is cooked, add your pesto, milk, chicken and seasonings.
Give a nice stir.
Transfer half the spaghetti into your baking dish.
I used these fun Ciliegine mozzarella cheese balls for the middle of the bake, but feel free to use shredded mozzarella cheese as a substitute.
Top with your remaining spaghetti then top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Now, you’re ready to bake!
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry spaghetti
- 1 cup prepared pesto
- 1 cup milk (I used skim)
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups mozzarella balls (ciliegine)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and run under cold water. Place noodles back into pot. Add pesto, milk, chicken, salt, garlic salt, and pepper, stirring to combine. Transfer half of the spaghetti to baking dish then add mozzarella balls. Add remaining spaghetti then top with shredded mozzarella. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Makes 8 Servings
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I wish we had Trader Joes in Colorado! I love this store. This pasta looks so cheesy and good! Perfect Friday night dinner!
I have a jar of that TJ’s pesto at home so this is perfect!
Pesto? And MOZZARELLA BALLS? Cool ingredients make me so happy. Also, Friday makes me happy.
Love this pasta bake!
Oh girl, those mozzarella balls push this over the top!!
I love those little cheese balls!
I love you.
Pesto makes me feel summer is here and that’s a good thing!
I agere Abbe!
Wow! This pasta bake looks great Jenny ~ Love the cheese ‘n pesto combo!
Thanks Marla, hope you are on the mend! xoxo
So DELISH! Love the thought of putting pesto instead of the usual red sauce. Thank you for sharing this amazing dish! (=
Thank you Gloria!!
I have some pesto in the freezer and this is the perfect use for it. Thanks, Jenny!
Good thinking to have pesto in the freezer. I need to do that next time I make my own!
Great looking pasta! Now I can’t wait for summer and all of the fresh basil!
Oooo, me either Kevin
That looks awesome! I will have to make that soon
Thanks Natalie! Hope you enjoy.
Pesto just says Spring! to me. I love the flavor. And somehow it makes the pasta feel lighter, even when it’s heavy with cheese.
Haha! I agree Ashley
Bring on Spring!
I think the plate looks wonderful girl! The mozzarella cheese balls are so fun
I couldn’t seem to get a good shot to save my life, lol! Some recipes are just so non photogenic, lol! xoxo
i love how easy this is to put together! baking it is super fun too because it’s kind of like forgetting about it for a while and then you smell it coming from the oven and can’t wait for dinner! haha
This looks great! Can you prepare everything in advance and then bake it off at the last minute? How about freezing?
Oh I’ve never thought to use mozzarella balls in a pasta bake! GREAT idea! I will be making this for sure this week. Seems like a great weeknight meal
Fantastic idea, Jenny! I’ll be trying this soon!
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This looks delicious Jenny! Can’t wait to try it
Hello, Just wanted to drop a note to say this dish was so good…I made it for dinner last night and it was a hit!
Thank you for your creativitiy!
Loved it! Added sun-dried tomatoes also from Trader Joe’s. Do yourself a favor and try it out, really adds wonderful flavor!
Great tip Crystal! I love sun-dried tomatoes!
Made this just the other night using 100% whole wheat pasta, roasted chicken and shredded mozzarella (what I had on hand). My girls and husband loved it and told me it was a “definite make again.” Thanks Jenny!
Awesome, thanks for the feedback!
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