This low in fat, one-pot quick and Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake is filled with delicious Mediterranean flavours everyone loves. This rich tasting dish is incredibly easy to put together and perfect for sharing with friends and family.
This Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake is a one-pot dish perfect as a weeknight dinner idea, fuss-free and quick despite being made from scratch. Ok, I bought the pasta but the pesto did not come from a jar, in case you are wondering. Pesto is super easy to make and SO much better than the readymade stuff!
Except that I didn’t actually make any pesto for this recipe. Let me explain.
How to make quick and easy pesto marinade
What I did was assemble all the pesto ingredients and make the sauce using only the basil, oil and garlic. This became the marinade for the chicken (try to leave the chicken in the marinade for at least 30 minutes if you can). I didn’t puree the pine nuts in order to give this dish a bit of crunch. So they got sprinkled over the casserole. I also decided to sprinkle some of the parmesan over the pasta and some over the chicken in order to distribute the flavour throughout the dish.
I like to try out new cooking concepts and I am really pleased this one was a success:)
One pot pesto chicken pasta bake recipe
One huge advantage of making a one-pot dish is that all the flavours cook together. The pesto ingredients together with the juices from the chicken created gorgeous tasting pasta, which just wouldn’t be the same if they were cooked separately.
To make this easy pasta bake start by making the quick pesto marinade, then combine it with the chicken and set aside for about 30 minutes (if possible). While the chicken is marinating you can get on with preparing the pasta.
Combine the pasta with hot water (it will come to the boil faster), cover, bring to the boil, then simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the entire mixture into your casserole dish. Sprinkle with a little parmesan and some pine nuts. Place the chicken with any leftover pesto marinade over the top and scatter over the pine nuts and the rest of the parmesan. Bake for 25 minutes.
Note
Cooking times may vary depending on the size of your chicken pieces, so ensure the meat is fully cooked before serving. Having said that it is also important not to overcook the chicken as it may be a little dry.
What pasta to use in this recipe
I recommend using orzo pasta in this pesto chicken recipe. It cooks very quickly and doesn’t take up too much space in the casserole dish, so the chicken can cover it completely. That way the pasta won’t lose any moisture.
Serving suggestions
This easy pesto chicken pasta bake is delicious with steamed vegetables, such as broccoli or broccolini (which cooks in 2 minutes!), or grilled asparagus. Other vegetables would work too so simply enjoy this dish with your favourite one.
More easy pesto pasta recipes
Spaghetti with Parsley Avocado Pesto
Asparagus Pasta with Oregano Hazelnut Pesto
If you enjoy dishes using orzo pasta try my Baked Beetroot with Feta and Orzo.
Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake (Healthy)
Ingredients
- 500 g skinless chicken breast
- 250 g orzo pasta uncooked
- 30 g basil leaves only
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 25 g roasted pine nuts
- 50 g parmesan grated
- 50 ml olive oil
- 370 ml hot water
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Puree the basil, garlic and oil. Set aside.
- Cut the chicken lengthwise into thick strips (4-5 each), season, pour over the basil mixture, stir to combine and let marinate for 30 minutes (if possible).
- Preheat the oven to 375 F/ 190 C/ gas mark 5.
- In a saucepan combine the pasta with the hot water, season, cover and bring to boil, then simmer for 3 minutes. Carefully transfer the entire mixture into a medium size casserole dish (6-7 cm deep).
- Scatter 3 quarters of the parmesan and the pine nuts over the pasta. Place the chicken strips on top (along with any remaining basil mixture), scatter the remaining parmesan and pine nuts and bake for 25 minutes. Halfway through cooking stir the mixture gently (by poking around the chicken pieces with a spatula so the chicken still stays on top) ensuring the pasta does not stick to the bottom.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately (ensure the meat is fully cooked) with vegetables or salad.
Notes
Don’t forget to pin this healthy Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake!
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RECIPE LINK PARTIES
I am bringing this healthy Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake to #CookBlogShare, which I have the pleasure of hosting this week. If you’ve got a recipe why not link it up too! Also sharing with Recipe of the Week, and Fiesta Friday. This week’s co-hosts are Mollie @ The Frugal Hausfrau and Petra @ Food Eat Love.
Hi, I am Monika, welcome to Everyday Healthy Recipes! This blog is all about creatively simple recipes with a healthy twist, old classics with a modern take, and an occasional Polish dish thrown into the mix - all easy to make, healthy and delicious, perfect for everyday cooking. 
This is a keeper Monika! Simple and delicious recipe!
Thank you, glad you like it:)
This is an ideal recipe for my children – they love all these ingredients! Thanks for sharing
Thank you, glad to hear that:)
This looks so tasty and simple to put together. I’ve not had orzo before so I think I need to try some!
Do try it, it’s a bit like pasta and a bit like rice, really nice, great in salads:)
Monika, you’ve made this look so lovely, and I now it’s healthy! Best of all, it seems I’m always looking for a great use of orzo after I make my Italian Wedding Soup. Beautiful share at Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Thank you Mollie, orzo is such a great type of pasta but somehow not as popular as other pasta shapes, no idea why, so I am always happy when I find a suitable recipe to put it in:)
I think it’s a little trickier to work into recipes. 🙂
Yes, I agree
Looks delicious!
Thank you!
This sounds really delicious! I haven’t used orzo but am always thinking of trying it and I love the way it is cooked with all the pesto ingredients and chicken.
Thank you Corina:)
This is a brilliant idea Monika!
Thank you:)