Chicken Asparagus Pasta Bake

Name: Chicken Asparagus Pasta Bake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb asparagus (450 g); 12 oz short pasta (360 g, Note 1); 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (450 g, Note 2); ½ teaspoon garlic powder (to taste); 4 tablespoons olive oil (divided, Note 3); ½ cup Parmesan (freshly grated 60 g/ 2 oz, divided, Note 4); fine sea salt and black pepper (to taste)

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This delicious chicken asparagus pasta bake is light yet comforting, perfect for this time of the year. Once you’ve tried this chicken and asparagus casserole, you will keep coming back to it every spring.

You can’t go wrong with this recipe for chicken asparagus pasta bake! It’s easy to make, quick, and made with just a few ingredients – the perfect spring casserole that the whole family will love.

The chicken asparagus casserole only needs some good olive oil, but trust me, that is enough; you will not miss any cream, white or cheesy sauce – this dish is perfect just as it is. The olive oil enhances the delicate asparagus flavor, while a too-cheesy sauce will slightly overpower it.

For more delightful asparagus recipes, check out our Asparagus Chicken Soup, Potato Asparagus Salad, Asparagus and Eggs Breakfast, or Asparagus Coconut Curry.

Recipe ingredients

asparagus spears, parmesan, olive oil, pasta and chicken breast in bowls.

This recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients and some basic spices.

Asparagus: A bunch of fresh and crisp green asparagus spears.
Boneless, skinless chicken breast. Alternatively, you can cook this recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs. In this case, increase the chicken’s cooking time slightly.
Pasta: Short pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, short ribbons, macaroni, fusilli, etc.
Olive oil: Extra virgin, good quality olive oil.
Parmesan: Always use freshly grated Parmesan or Grana Padano; it really makes a difference.
Spices: Fine sea salt or kosher salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder

How to make chicken and asparagus casserole?

Preheat the oven.
Cook the pasta and the asparagus: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. During this time, wash the asparagus spears and remove their woody lower ends (See Expert Tips). Next, cut the stalks into 3-4 smaller pieces.
Once the water boils, add salt and then the noodles. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions but remember to add the asparagus during the last 3 minutes of the cooking time (1). Drain well.
Chicken: While the pasta cooks, prepare the chicken.
Cook: Cut the breasts into bite-size pieces and gently fry them in 1 tablespoon of olive oil for about 3-4 minutes; the chicken should be golden and cooked through. Add garlic powder to taste; I added about ½ teaspoon (2).

collage of two pictures of cooking asparagus and frying chicken.

Assemble the casserole dish: Mix all the ingredients in a casserole dish. Stir in the remaining olive oil and half of the grated Parmesan.
Stir well, adjust the taste with salt and pepper, and sprinkle the casserole with the remaining Parmesan (3).
Bake in the preheated oven (350°F/180°C) until lightly golden, about 10 minutes (4).

collage of two pictures of pasta bake with chicken and asparagus before and after baking.

Expert Tips

Don't discard the woody ends of the asparagus stalks; freeze and use them later (together with other veggies) to make vegetable broth. Use the broth to make this Asparagus and Chicken Risotto, for instance.

The olive oil should be good-tasting, as you can taste it in the recipe. Don’t choose any oil that’s too bitter.

Parmesan: Use freshly grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese doesn’t taste as good. On top of that, it contains additives that prevent it from melting nicely.

casserole dish full with chicken asparagus and parmesan bake.

Recipe FAQs

Can I cook this asparagus bake in advance?

Yes, the chicken asparagus pasta bake can be made in advance.
Prepare everything, assemble the dish, let it cool completely, and cover it. Then, refrigerate it until ready to bake.
Bake as directed, adding 5-10 minutes when baking from chilled.

Can I use other vegetables instead of asparagus for this bake?

Sure. I often make this bake with broccoli florets when asparagus is out of season.
You could also make it with peas, cauliflower, or green beans. Or a frozen vegetable mix of your liking.

How to store and reheat asparagus chicken bake?

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.
Freeze leftovers airtight for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.

pasta bake with chicken breast and asparagus close up.

More delicious pasta bakes

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