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chicken and bacon pasta bake on a plate with a spoon.
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4.50 from 10 votes

Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake

Creamy chicken and bacon pasta bake with cheese and sour cream, this pasta bake has the potential to become a family favorite.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Pasta and Rice
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 590kcal
Author: Adina

Ingredients

  • 250 g/ 8.8 oz/ 2 ½ cups elbow macaroni or other short cut pasta
  • 75 g/ 2.6 oz bacon either already cubed or regular slices
  • 1 jar of mushrooms See note 1
  • 250 g/ 8.8 oz/ about 2 cups cooked and cubed chicken See note 2
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon sweet paprika powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper to taste
  • 250 g/ 8.8 oz/ 1 cup sour cream
  • 125 g/ 4.4 oz/ 1 ¼ cups grated cheese See note 3
  • 1-2 tablespoons chopped chives

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/ 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cook the pasta according to the packet's instructions. Drain and return to the pot.
  • Cook the bacon.
  • If using fresh mushrooms, clean them with kitchen paper, slice them thinly and fry them in the pan you used for frying the bacon for about 3-4 minutes, until the water they release evaporates and they are golden. You will not need to add fat if there is still some bacon fat in the pan.
  • If using mushrooms from a jar, let them drain well.
  • Cube the cooked chicken.
  • Add the crumbled or chopped bacon, chicken, and mushrooms to the pasta in the pot.
  • Add salt, pepper, dried rosemary, sweet paprika powder, and garlic powder.
  • Add the sour cream and ¾ of the grated cheese. Mix well and adjust the taste with salt and pepper, if necessary.
  • Place the chicken and bacon pasta in a casserole dish of about 19x23 cm/7.5x9 inches.
  • Sprinkle the dish with the remaining grated cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the top of the chicken and bacon pasta bake is golden brown.
  • Sprinkle with chives and serve.

Video

Notes

  1. Don't stress about the exact amount of mushrooms in the jar or can, use whatever you have, a little more or less will not matter, about 150-200 g/ 5.3-7 oz drained weight. If using fresh mushrooms about 200 g/ 7 oz fresh mushrooms are OK.
  2. Use leftover chicken (or turkey) or use rotisserie chicken. If none is available, cook about the same amount of chicken breast and use that instead.
  3. Gouda, Cheddar, or any kind of cheese you like to use when making pasta bakes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of the bake | Calories: 590kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1114mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g