Pour into … I’ll probably make this again but will add salt and pepper. Poured it in the 9x13 pan, topped with the crumb mixture & popped it in the oven. If you have another dish you love to serve this with, I would love for you to leave me a note in the comments so I can try it out. I had a party with 10 people and the 8x10 went untouched and there was about 1 serving left in the 9x13. I don't even have this in the oven yet and I'm giving it 5 stars. !it is going in the meal rotation for sure! Do you think the rice would absorb too much liquid before it is bake Do? Depending on what you use, the cooking time may be altered. I don't know what it tastes like with all 15oz of pesto and crushed tomatoes but it was just fine with only 7oz of pesto and diced tomatoes. If you want to add a little something to it though to round out the meal there are several great options from simple, to healthy, and a few in between. Drain the pasta and add alfredo sauce to the large bowl and toss with ingredients to coat. With easy prep and easy clean up, what more could you want?! I really hopeful that this answers most any question that comes up to make preparing this dish super easy. The delicious pesto flavor envelopes the chicken and rice and is made over the top delicious by the creaminess. If there is something I didn’t answer you can ask . To rate a recipe with 1 star because of what it "sounds" like completely defeats the meaning of this website. Enjoy! Most people won't think twice about serving basic cornbread when is on the table. This meal-in-one will wow family and friends. & because of the calorie/fat content? Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. I do have this recipe that is very similar but does not contain rice and would be fabulous served over zucchini noodles. Oh and before you go!… If you need a regular rotation of recipe inspiration like me, make sure to sign up to get our emails! Your email address will not be published. A: This dish is naturally gluten free. © Copyright 2020, 20 Things to Cook This Month That Have Nothing to Do With Thanksgiving, 15 Vegan Muffin Recipes for Easy Breakfasts, 15 Comfort Food Dinners That Start With Creamy Alfredo Sauce, 2-Ingredient Snacks That Are Too Easy Not to Make, Use Your Stale Bread in These Savory Bread Puddings, 13 Spiked Apple Cider Cocktails to Celebrate the Season, 15 Comfort Food Casseroles Inspired by World Cuisines, 12 Recipes to Turn Extra Chicken into Healthy Main Dish Salads, 15 Ground Beef Soup Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners, Ground Turkey Slow Cooker Recipes for Easy Weeknight Meals, 11 Top Chicken Casseroles That Lean to the Healthy Side, 12 Classic Italian Recipes Made Easy in the Instant Pot, Nutrition I’d cook the chicken then top it with the sauce and finish in the oven. Hypertrophy I use a very large deep pot to mix it all in:). I had to pour it into a 9x13 casserole dish AND an 8x10 casserole dish. I've never commented before, but I am just amazed at some users sometimes!!! for crushed tomatoes as had an open can in the fridge--family loved it! I don’t do that just for the savings of time and dishes. Should the chicken be slightly browned on the outside first like most of these types of dishes? Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Great family meal! Here are a few easy side items that go great with this dish: You can pick one or a couple of these to pair with the Pesto Chicken Casserole. Add the jar of pesto. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. ©2018 Easy Family Recipes- Recipe found at: casserole, Chicken Casserole, easy, gluten free, Pesto Chicken, Terms of Use – Disclosure & Privacy Policies, https://easyfamilyrecipes.com/pesto-chicken-casserole/, https://www.thepinningmama.com/pesto-chicken/. Place … I did it all in one pan on the stove top with the exception of the bread crumb mixture, obviously. Fantastic! This dish cannot be easily adapted to be dairy free or grain free. As the submitter I would just like to say it is a comfort food food that my family and friends love.And was not meant to be lowfat. Leftovers reheat perfectly to eat for lunches throughout the week. Cover with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked throughout and bubbling on the sides. HI there, Do you think this could be assembled and frozen uncooked? Drain the pasta and add alfredo sauce to the large bowl and toss with ingredients to coat. I decreased the amount of pesto to 9oz and it was still too much. This was great. IF I needed to alter the recipe I would make penne with pesto add some chicken add some sun dried tomatoes and decrease the 4 cups of shredded cheese. Trim the chicken, then cut it into roughly even pieces around 2 inches each. It combines tender chicken with rice, pesto and creamy cheese, all baked together in one dish for a perfect easy weeknight dinner. If you read the ingredients and decide it is not for you because of calories, salt, fat, or whatever, why are you even reading the reviews and adding your opinion? Made it exactly as written and my whole family was delighted. Does this dish accommodate special dietary restrictions? It makes my day to see others enjoying the recipes that I share! I think it goes especially well with the veggies since you already have your meat and starch all wrapped up in the casserole. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. You can make it on the stove top. Hover over "serves" value to reveal recipe scaler. If you prefer your chicken browned, you can absolutely add that step into the recipe. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted. I am pleading with those of you who feel compelled to give a negative rating to a recipe you've never tried to please resist the urge. Drain well in a colander set in the sink. It smells divine, too. Subscribe to email updates for new recipes delivered to your inbox! Stir in the rice and then pour the entire mixture into a large casserole dish. Info. I send out my new favorites, the recipes my family has been devouring, and some of the best tried and true recipes. This is not at all healthy - but outstanding. As the submitter I would just like to say it is a comfort food food that my family and friends love.And was not meant to be lowfat. Add comma separated list of ingredients to exclude from recipe. Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved, The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified. for crushed tomatoes as had an open can in the fridge--family loved it! https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pesto-chicken-penne-casseroles The rest of us are not interested in your lecture, but rather the experiences of those who have actually made the recipe. My family thanks you for posting such a great, pantry-adaptable recipe!!! Or does it need to be in the oven?? Combine the cream cheese, pesto and chicken broth in a bowl and whisk until smooth. From adult to kids, I use it on quite a lot of dishes (like my popular Caprese Chicken) and everyone in the family will gobble them up. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil. Great family meal! Stir in the pasta once done, and scoop into the prepared baking dish. Cook the pasta in a large pot according to package directions. Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the mozzarella cheese. Is that normal? Also works well with thinly sliced pork tenderloin. Make the pesto cream sauce: whisk the flour with milk until combined then whisk in the cream and pesto. Will make again & again...& again! It was very good and I'll definitely make it again! I halved the pesto because the pesto at my store comes in 7oz containers and most people said they halved it anyway. However, our lighter, nutritionally healthier options offer exciting twists on the classics and equally desirable results for a meal the whole family will enjoy. Tweaks - I halved the pesto, used diced tomatoes, omitted the spinach (didn't have any) & seasoned the chicken a bit. Hi Sandra- This recipe would not work by subbing zucchini noodles since there would be far too much liquid without the rice soaking it up. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, and the rice is tender and has soaked up all of the liquid. It is easy and free of course! Amount is based on available nutrient data. This was a very simple and tasty dish. Other cuts of chicken such as chicken thighs can be used as long as they are boneless, skinless. Making your dish tonight. Pour into the prepared 9x13 inch pan. We've since modified it to: reducing the pesto (we always have homemade in the freezer) & the shredded Italian cheeses by half substituting spaghetti or marinara (again homemade) sauce for the tomatoes (if we have some leftover otherwise we've also used fresh - roasted or not - tomatoes with success much better than canned) & we use the spinach if we remember to buy it leave it out if we forget never used the breadcrumbs - either way it's always a satisfying & relatively easy crowd pleaser - with or without the chicken even!!! One star was way to generous. You can click here to sign up or on the button below. Can I use chicken thighs or other cuts of meat in this recipe? Mix the olive oil with the spices, add to the chicken. I recommend this recipe to anyone. Second time, used diced tomatoes and different cheese--another hit! Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. This recipe really is super simple. Combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a small bowl until evenly moistened; set aside. Add remaining cheese to the top of the casserole. Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram. The chicken and rice all cook together in the oven as it bakes making this a true one dish dinner. https://www.thepinningmama.com/pesto-chicken/, I am trying this very dish tonight for dinner, can you just make it on the stove top? Yes! The first time I made it, I subbed tomato paste A: The rice should be uncooked when you mix it into this recipe. My kids clean their plates just about as quickly as we do, and in the end you just have a couple of dishes to clean up.