Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Bake is a delicious baked pasta recipe with tons of cheese, chicken and pesto flavor. It’s the perfect easy recipe for busy weeknights that your kids will absolutely adore!

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

This Chicken Spaghetti Bake is such a great weeknight dinner. 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.  Hope you enjoy!

Try my One Pot Cheesy Spaghetti too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

How To Make Chicken Spaghetti Bake

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

  2. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and run under cold water. Place noodles back into pot.

  3. Add pesto, milk, chicken, salt, garlic salt, and pepper, stirring to combine.

  4. 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.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Once your pasta is cooked, add your pesto, milk, chicken and seasonings.

Tips How To Cook Perfect Pasta

  1. Use a large pot. Pick a roomy pot that gives the pasta plenty of space to move.
  2. Load up the pot with lots of water. You want five or six quarts for a standard package of pasta.
  3. Salt the water. Then salt, salt, and salt again! Don’t just give a single tap of the shaker—you want to use at least a tablespoon.
  4. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil
  5. Keep stirring. The benefit: Occasionally stirring the pot will keep your pasta from clumping.
  6. Test the pasta two minutes before it’s “ready” No matter your preference, it’s better to err on the side of al dente, as overcooked pasta will break down and become mush.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Give a nice stir.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Transfer half the spaghetti into your baking dish.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

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.

cheese 2

Top with your remaining spaghetti then top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Now, you’re ready to bake!

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Image of Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Bake is a delicious baked pasta recipe with tons of cheese, chicken and pesto flavor. It's the perfect easy recipe for busy weeknights that your kids will absolutely adore!
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 433kcal
Print Pin

Equipment

  • Oven

Ingredients

  • 1 lb dry spaghetti noodles
  • 1 cup prepared pesto
  • 1 cup milk I used skim
  • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups mozzarella balls Ciliegine
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9x13 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 730mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 693IU | Calcium: 299mg | Iron: 1mg
Keywords: baked spaghetti recipe, baked spaghetti with chicken, chicken pasta bake, chicken spaghetti bake, easy baked spaghetti, easy baked spaghetti recipe, pasta bake recipe, pesto pasta recipe, pesto spaghetti, spaghetti bake recipe

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34 Responses
  1. Jessica Young

    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!

  2. Crystal

    Loved it! Added sun-dried tomatoes also from Trader Joe’s. Do yourself a favor and try it out, really adds wonderful flavor!

  3. Shelly B.

    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!

  4. Melissa

    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 🙂

  5. Niki

    This looks great! Can you prepare everything in advance and then bake it off at the last minute? How about freezing?

  6. Julie @ Table for Two

    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

    1. Jenny

      I couldn’t seem to get a good shot to save my life, lol! Some recipes are just so non photogenic, lol! xoxo

  7. Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine)

    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.

  8. Kevin @ Closet Cooking

    Great looking pasta! Now I can’t wait for summer and all of the fresh basil!

  9. Aimee @ Simple Bites

    I have some pesto in the freezer and this is the perfect use for it. Thanks, Jenny!

  10. Gloria @ Simply Gloria

    So DELISH! Love the thought of putting pesto instead of the usual red sauce. Thank you for sharing this amazing dish! (=

  11. LisaR @ Who Stole My Baby?

    Pesto? And MOZZARELLA BALLS? Cool ingredients make me so happy. Also, Friday makes me happy.

  12. Tieghan

    I wish we had Trader Joes in Colorado! I love this store. This pasta looks so cheesy and good! Perfect Friday night dinner!

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