Savory Chicken Pasta Bake

Savory Chicken Pasta Bake is a hearty, oven-finished casserole where cooked pasta, shredded chicken, and vegetables are bound in a creamy or tomato-based sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until bubbly. It typically features ingredients like penne or fusilli, cooked chicken breast, marinara or alfredo sauce, onions, bell peppers, and a generous layer of mozzarella or parmesan. While it has roots in American home cooking, it draws inspiration from Italian-American pasta dishes and the broader tradition of baked casseroles.

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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is generally high in protein from the chicken and cheese, and also provides a significant amount of carbohydrates from the pasta and fats from the cheese and sauce. A typical serving offers a good source of calcium and some vitamins from any included vegetables, with a calorie count that can range from 500 to 800 calories per generous portion, depending on the specific recipe and portion size.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	450 kcal
Protein	25 g
Carbs	40 g
Fat	20 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	5 g
Sodium	750 mg
Calcium	200 mg
Iron	3 mg
Potassium	400 mg
Vitamin A	150 mcg
Vitamin C	10 mg
Vitamin B12	1.5 mcg
Niacin (B3)	8 mg
Phosphorus	300 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, the pasta bake is a quintessential example of comfort food and weeknight family cooking in many Western households, prized for its versatility and ability to feed a crowd. Nutritionally, it's a complete, all-in-one meal that can be easily adapted to be more balanced by incorporating a variety of vegetables and using lean protein sources.