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.

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.

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.

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!

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 mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

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

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