Pesto Chicken Bake
Pesto Chicken Casserole, Inspired by Pesto Chicken Bake, this delicious casserole brings together pasta, chicken breast, pesto sauce, broccoli, and mozzarella cheese in one comforting bake. When I first made this version after clicking Jump to Recipe, I understood why it’s described as packed with flavor, quick to make, and totally kid-friendly.
Served straight from a hot casserole dish onto a white plate, even with a serving missing, this pesto pasta chicken bake feels like something you would proudly share through Subscribe to Everyday Delicious, whether via Website, Email, or even alongside notes about interest-based advertising and Privacy Notice.
Ingredients
Main Pasta Version
| Ingredient | Quantity / Notes |
| Chicken breast | As needed |
| Garlic powder | To taste |
| Thyme | To taste |
| Italian seasoning | To taste |
| Fresh garlic | To taste |
| Pasta (medium-sized) | Fusilli or penne |
| Broccoli | Optional vegetable |
| Zucchini | Optional vegetable |
| Green beans | Optional vegetable |
| Corn | Optional vegetable |
| Carrots | Optional vegetable |
| Basil pesto | As needed |
| Basil walnut pesto | Optional |
| Ramp (wild garlic) pesto | Optional |
| Parsley pesto | Optional |
| Celery leaf pesto | Optional |
| Sun-dried tomato pesto | Optional |
| Milk | For sauce |
| Cream | For sauce |
| Flour | To thicken sauce |
| Mozzarella cheese | Sprinkle on top |
| Mild-flavored mozzarella | Preferred |
| Seasoned bread crumbs | ½ cup |
| Grated Parmesan cheese | ½ cup |
| Olive oil | 1 tablespoon |
| Penne pasta | 16 ounce box |
| Cubed cooked chicken | 6 cups |
| Shredded Italian cheese blend | 4 cups |
| Fresh baby spinach | 3 cups |
| Crushed tomatoes | 15 ounce can |
| Alfredo sauce | 15 ounce jar |
| Pesto sauce | 15 ounce jar |
| Milk | 1 ½ cups |
Rice Version
| Ingredient | Quantity / Notes |
| Boneless skinless chicken breast | 2 lb |
| Average chicken breasts | 3–4 |
| Chicken tenderloins | Optional |
| Jasmine rice | 1 ½ cup |
| Quick cooking rice (uncooked) | 2 cups |
| Cream cheese (softened) | 8 oz |
| Regular or low fat cream cheese | Not fat free |
| Pesto (prepared) | 1/3 cup |
| Chicken broth | 2 cups |
| Bullion cubes + water | Substitute |
| Mozzarella cheese (shredded) | 1 cup |
Bruschetta Style Topping
| Ingredient | Quantity |
| Grape tomatoes (quartered) | 1 pint / 2 cups |
| Red onion (finely chopped) | 1/4 cup |
| Garlic cloves (minced) | 2 |
| Balsamic vinegar | 2 Tablespoons |
| Boneless skinless chicken breasts (cubed) | 4 (about 2 pounds) |
| Basil pesto | 1/2 cup |
| Shredded mozzarella cheese | 2 cups |
| Seasoned panko crumbs | 1 cup |
| Olive oil | 2 tablespoons |
How to make it step by step
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| STEP 1 | Cook pasta and broccoli together in one pot. Bring boiling water to a boil. Cook for 8 minutes total (6 minutes pasta + 2 minutes broccoli). Remove with a slotted spoon and keep partially cooked. |
| STEP 2 | Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch (2–3 cm) cubes. Toss with olive oil, spices, salt, and pepper. Add raw chicken directly to keep it juicy and tender when baked. |
| STEP 3 | Whisk pesto, milk, cream, and flour until smooth and lightly seasoned to make pesto cream sauce. |
| STEP 4 | Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook pasta in lightly salted water at rolling boil for about 11 minutes until firm to the bite. Drain well. Combine chicken, Italian cheese blend, spinach, tomatoes, Alfredo sauce, pesto sauce, and milk. Stir pasta into mixture. |
| STEP 5 | Assemble everything in a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) casserole dish. Stir together. |
| STEP 6 | Add shredded mozzarella cheese. Leave uncovered for chewy cheese or tent with foil and broil to brown cheese. Bake 35 minutes at 375°F (190°C) until bubbly and golden brown (about 40–45 minutes total). Let stand 5–10 minutes. Ensure chicken is white, not light pink. Bake 5 more minutes if needed. |
Rice Version – Step by Step
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Preheat oven to 375°F. |
| 2 | Whisk cream cheese, pesto, and chicken broth until smooth. Stir in rice. |
| 3 | Pour mixture into casserole dish. Trim chicken, cut into 2-inch pieces, place evenly, and push into liquid. |
| 4 | Bake 50–60 minutes until chicken is cooked through, rice is tender, and liquid is absorbed. |
Bruschetta Version – Step by Step
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Preheat oven to 375°F. |
| 2 | In a small bowl, combine tomatoes, red onion, garlic, and vinegar. Marinate in fridge. |
| 3 | Toss pesto chicken and arrange in single layer in baking dish. |
| 4 | Scoop tomato mixture on top, discarding excess balsamic liquid. |
| 5 | Sprinkle cheese on top. Mix panko crumbs with olive oil and sprinkle over cheese. |
| 6 | Bake 25–30 minutes until chicken is done and crumbs are golden brown. Use foil tent if browning too quickly. |
Storing and freezing
This casserole Reheats very well. Simply store fridge for up to 3 days or place leftovers airtight container in the refrigerator 3-4 days. To warm, reheat oven, lightly sprinkle water, place in a cold oven, and heat at 375°F 190°C for about 15 minutes; in a newer oven, reduce to 320°F 160°C. You can also use the microwave for quick portions. For longer storage, freeze up to 3 months, defrost fridge, then warm oven before serving, or keep in the freezer up to a month for shorter plans.
Other Casserole Ideas Worth Trying
Pesto Chicken Casserole If you enjoy pesto chicken casserole, you’ll likely appreciate comfort dishes like Chicken broccoli rice casserole made from scratch, the bold Bobotie recipe, or a South African curried meatloaf casserole. For lighter vegetable-focused bakes, options such as Zucchini gratin, cheesy scalloped zucchini, Baked ratatouille, and confit byaldi bring variety while keeping that cozy casserole feel I often look for when planning weekly dinners.
On busier nights, I rotate easy family favorites like Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, Chicken Parmesan Roll-Ups, One-Pan Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice, One-Pan Chicken Enchilada Skillet, and Creamy Chicken Noodle Skillet. When I want minimal cleanup, recipes such as One-Pan Mexican Chicken Rice, One-Pan Monterey Chicken Pasta, Baked Parmesan Caesar Chicken, One-Pot Bacon Broccoli Pasta, One-Pan Baked Ziti Skillet, Tomato Basil Chicken Quinoa, and One-Pan Chicken Spinach Orzo fit perfectly into a simple, practical meal plan.
Pesto Chicken Penne Casserole
The Pesto Chicken Penne Casserole stands out with its 4.6 rating, backed by 752 reviews, 568 reviews, and 131 photos, which already tells you it’s a crowd-pleaser. Described as creamy flavorful easy to fix, this meal-in-one dish can truly wow family friends, especially because it makes a lot, so I often freeze some or halve recipe depending on the week. It was Submitted by Lindalou and Updated on May 7 2025, which adds confidence in how well-tested it is.
What I like most is how flexible it feels in real life—you can Save, Rate, Print, Share, or Add Photo after making it your own. The topping of pesto chicken penne casserole with bread crumbs gives that satisfying finish, making it ideal for both casual family meals and bigger gatherings without overthinking dinner prep.
Creamy Pesto Chicken Casserole
The Creamy Pesto Chicken Casserole by Kimber Matherne,, and you may notice mentions of ads, affiliate links, and a disclosure policy when viewing it online. What truly matters is that it is described as knock your socks off delicious, made with tender chicken, rice, pesto, and creamy cheese all baked together in one dish. As an easy weeknight dinner, it is super tasty, easily feeds a crowd, works for serving guests, or even a house full of hungry kids. Many call it the BEST Pesto Chicken Casserole recipe because it uses simple ingredients in a true one dish dinner format. The balance of pesto flavor, richness freshness, and bold garlic reminds me of Caprese Chicken, almost like a cheater risotto recipe where chicken rice cook together and become perfectly oven baked with minimal effort.
From my own experience, recipes like this feel like pure dinnertime magic. With easy prep and easy clean up, you’re left with only a couple of dishes, and when kids clean plates, it truly feels like a dinnertime battle win. It’s the kind of meal that both family loves, including adults kids, especially when everything is laid out clearly like a helpful Table of contents before you begin.
What to serve with Creamy Pesto Chicken Casserole
Pesto Chicken Casserole You can easily serve alone since it’s already a filling dish, with the meat starch wrapped up in one pan. But if you want to round out meal, I usually add side items that bring balance. There are plenty of simple healthy options like a side salad, steamed broccoli, or sautéed green beans to pair veggies with the creamy texture of the bake.
For something more comforting, garlic toast, roasted vegetables, or even bruschetta work beautifully alongside it. These additions don’t overpower the casserole but complement it, and if you ever try a new combination, leave a comments note so others can discover fresh serving ideas too.
Bruschetta Pesto Chicken Casserole
The Bruschetta Pesto Chicken Casserole by Christy Denney, is a fresh twist on classic pesto chicken casserole flavors. After you Jump to Recipe, you’ll see how this dish builds layers chicken pesto tomatoes onion crunchy Panko topping into one satisfying bake. It’s perfect when you’re feeding a small army Sunday dinner because casseroles convenient feeding crowd without stress.
I love how it feels like a hybrid assortment flavors, combining pesto coated chicken with bright balsamic marinated tomatoes, finished with a golden cheese topping and Panko crumbs crunchier regular bread crumbs for extra texture. Like many blogs, it may mention commissions purchases links post, but what stands out is the balance of freshness and crunch in every bite.
Notes
You can easily substitute quick cooking rice as a jasmine rice alternative, depending on what you have at home. I often swap in chicken thighs boneless skinless when I want extra moisture. Making homemade pesto works beautifully, though most grocery stores refrigerated pasta sections carry good options like Buitoni basil pesto.
Keep in mind that baked chicken release liquid, so seeing some liquid bottom baking dish is normal. Always treat the Calories estimate as a guide, especially since this dish is usually labeled under Course Main Course and fits well within Cuisine international styles.
Creamy Pesto Chicken Casserole Recipe FAQ’s
Is the rice cooked or uncooked in this recipe?
The rice should be uncooked before baking because it absorbs the liquid in the casserole. This helps create tender rice as it cooks directly in the sauce.
Can I use cauliflower rice or precooked rice instead?
No, cauliflower rice will not work because it does not absorb liquid the same way. Precooked rice also will not absorb liquid properly, which can affect the final texture of the casserole.
Can I use chicken thighs or other cuts of poultry?
Yes, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or other similar cuts. Just remember that the cooking time may need to be adjusted depending on the thickness of the meat.
Why does the top look greasy after baking?
A slightly oily layer on top is normal. Pesto contains basil, garlic, oil, and cheese, and the oil can rise to the top during baking. You can stir it back in for extra flavor or remove some of the excess oil with a spoon.
Is this recipe suitable for special diets?
This casserole is naturally gluten free. However, it is not dairy free and not grain free.