Comfortable baked pasta with chicken, salsa, and melted cheeses creating a flavorful, satisfying meal.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 10 oz penne or rotini pasta (regular or gluten-free)
→ Chicken
02 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced (14 oz)
03 - 1 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Sauce
08 - 2 cups tomato salsa (mild or spicy)
09 - 1/2 cup sour cream
10 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
→ Cheese
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
12 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Vegetables & Garnish
13 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
14 - 1/2 red onion, diced
15 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until browned and fully cooked.
04 - Add diced red bell pepper and red onion to skillet. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly softened. Remove skillet from heat.
05 - In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta, chicken with vegetables, salsa, sour cream, and chicken broth until evenly coated.
06 - Spread half the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the rest of the cheeses.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired. Serve warm.
