A comforting baked pasta layered with tender chicken, salsa, and melted cheese for easy family meals.
# 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 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Sauce
08 - 2 cups tomato salsa (mild or spicy, as preferred)
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 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. 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 the skillet. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly softened. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta, chicken and vegetables, tomato salsa, sour cream, and chicken broth until well combined.
06 - Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with half of the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Top with the remaining pasta mixture and finish with the remaining cheeses.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired. Serve hot.
