Description

This Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Bake is a comforting, high-protein meal featuring tender chicken breast, flavorful marinara, and a creamy cottage cheese sauce. Baked to perfection with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, it’s an easy and satisfying dinner that combines wholesome ingredients with Italian-inspired flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Protein

8 oz high-protein pasta (chickpea, lentil, or Banza penne/rotini)
2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

Sauce and Cheese

1.5 cups full-fat (4%) cottage cheese, blended completely smooth
1 cup thick marinara or tomato basil sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Seasonings and Herbs

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×9 inch baking dish to prevent sticking during baking.
Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well to remove excess water.
Blend Cottage Cheese: Use a blender or food processor to pulse the cottage cheese until it becomes completely smooth and creamy, ensuring there are no lumps.
Mix Sauce: In a large bowl, combine the blended cottage cheese, marinara sauce, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir thoroughly to create a creamy sauce.
Combine Pasta and Chicken: Add the cooked pasta and shredded chicken breast to the sauce mixture. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated with the sauce.
Assemble in Baking Dish: Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden on top.
Garnish and Serve: Remove the pasta bake from the oven, garnish with the fresh chopped basil leaves, and serve immediately while hot and creamy.

Notes

You can substitute the chicken with turkey or a plant-based protein if preferred.
Using high-protein pasta made from chickpeas or lentils boosts the nutritional value significantly.
For lower fat content, use low-fat cottage cheese instead of full-fat.
If fresh basil is unavailable, dried basil can be used but add it earlier in the sauce for better flavor infusion.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated well in the oven or microwave.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: chicken pasta bake, creamy tomato basil pasta, high protein pasta bake, baked chicken pasta, healthy pasta dinner, cottage cheese pasta bake