Chicken Caprese Pasta Bake
If you love the flavors of Caprese salad, you’ll love this Caprese inspired pasta! This Chicken Caprese Pasta Bake is made with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, chicken thighs and baked until it’s hot and bubbly!
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken thighs fat trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2-3 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup fresh chopped basil chopped
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 oz. rotini or other short cut pasta
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional: chopped fresh basil to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken thighs and cook through. Remove and set aside.
- Wipe out skillet and add garlic, grape tomatoes, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook until tomatoes start to burst, 5-8 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped basil and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the pasta until it's al dente. Drain and add the pasta and cooked chicken into the skillet of tomatoes.
- Toss in half of the shredded mozzarella and spoon the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella over the pasta and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with more fresh basil and serve.