Looking for a pasta dinner to make in under 40 minutes? This Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake is full of meat, veggies, and ooey, gooey cheese.
Do you ever lose time in stores?
When I go into Target, it will be a good hour before I come out. And that's a quick trip. Seriously, I think they put something in the air vents to keep you looking at all their cute stuff.
Now that my son is getting older, he is starting to realize that mom should not be allowed to go into stores by herself. The other day I had to run a few errands...aka go to Target...so, I called him after school to see if they wanted to play at the community center while I went to the store.
He thought for a minute and then said, "No, it will be quicker if we go with you." WHAT? When did that little stinker become so smart?
I used to lose time whenever I would think about making dinner.
My mind would totally blank out...even if I was staring at cupboards full of options. All of a sudden I would realize that I had been staring at the same thing for like minutes at a time.
I think it was just because I had gotten so used to only thinking about desserts. All I could think of were different ways to make brownies, fudge, and cookies. Now don't get me wrong. I still have plenty of those thoughts still going through my head.
Now the occasional dinner idea like these cheesy chicken sliders pops in and I just have to get in the kitchen and put it together before I forget it.
This pasta dinner really is so easy to make. You can chop your veggies and meat ahead of time and store them in ziplock bags or containers in the refrigerator.
You can even prep your noodles ahead of time if you like. Just remember to drizzle a little bit of oil on the noodles to keep them from sticking.
Get the oven preheating while you sauté the veggies. Add the meat, tomatoes, and half the cheese. Once the cheese melts, you can spoon it into a baking dish. Go ahead and top it with the rest of the cheese. All that cheese will melt down and become absolutely delicious.
Get ready to lose some time when you start to eat this cheesy chicken sausage pasta bake. Comfort food at its best!
Recipe
Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake
This easy Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake is loaded with meat, veggies, and cheese. It's a great dinner to have on the table in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onions
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 cups packed fresh spinach leaves
- 1 ½ cups cooked cubed chicken
- 1 ½ cups fully cooked, sliced smoked sausage
- 1 - 28 ounce can diced Italian tomatoes, undrained
- 1 - 4 ounce can chopped green chilies
- 2 cups shredded Italian 5 Cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°. Spray an 8x8 pan with nonstick spray.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. While the noodles are cooking, chop the veggies and meats. Drain the noodles and set aside. Drizzle with a little bit of oil to keep the noodles from sticking.
- Heat the oil up in a skillet. Add the onions and sauté for2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and spinach leaves. Heat until the leaves start to wilt. Add the noodles, chicken, sausage, tomatoes, green chilies, and 1 cup cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Top with the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Broil for 2 minutes to brown the top. Serve hot. Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 671Total Fat: 45gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 704mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 5gSugar: 8gProtein: 41g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
More easy dinners to make for your family:
- Chow Mein Noodles with Chicken from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
- BBQ Chicken and Avocado Quesadillas from Inside BruCrew Life
- Cheesy Potato Chicken Dinner from Wonky Wonderful
- Spicy Parmesan Ranch Chicken Tenders from Inside BruCrew Life
- Jambalaya Foil Packet Dinner from Wine and Glue
Cathy
When do you add the pasta or should I say what do I do with the pasta? because it says nothing about the pasta after cooking it
Jocelyn
Whoops. I totally forgot to add that into the recipe. Thank you for pointing that out. You add the noodles with everything else. I went in and fixed the recipe. I hope you enjoyed the dinner.
Kelly
I can never make a quick trip to Target either haha. Love this pasta bake - with all the ooey gooey cheese - oh my - this is definitely a meal my family would love!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking
Oh Jocelyn, I'm definitely going through that "what-exactly-is-savory-food-and-how-do-I-cook-it-again??" phase right now. Just thinking about what to make for lunch and dinner makes me feel overwhelmed... And that's really not healthy! I need to get out of my desserts/sweet breakfasts rut and find new inspirational to get back to cooking healthy savory dishes. Do you have any advice?? I'm all ears! 🙂
Kristen
Target sucks me in too. I always seem to spend way more than I intended to.
And this looks delicious!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
Oh man Jocelyn, that shot with the melty cheese....I think I'm in love! I love simple, comforting pasta bakes like this, especially when I just want a no-fuss dinner. 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jess! 🙂
marcie
I waste so much time in stores that it's maddening. I'll go in the grocery store for what's supposed to be less than 5 items and end up with more than my bags can hold! Target and Costco are really bad, too! I love this idea you came up with here -- chicken, sausage, and cheesy pasta is a dish you just can't go wrong with! It's a family pleaser for sure. 🙂
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen
This is my kind of dinner Jocelyn! I love the sausage in it!! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Renee!
Chels R.
Mmm, that looks fantastic. Simple and Easy! I can't remember the last time I got to wander around Target by myself. I think it's been over a year. I always have the husband or the kids and I'm always in and out with no time to wander. 🙁
Serene @ House of Yumm
You had me with the ooey gooey cheese 🙂 That's the best part of any meal for me!! Love how simple this is to make. I tend to have the same problem with dinners, why can't I just feed everyone cookies for dinner?!? Thanks so much for giving me some different options! Hope you have a great weekend!
Jocelyn Brubaker
You're a girl after my own heart! 😉 Thanks Serene!
Chloe @ foodlikecake
You have such good recipes! This one looks amazing!
Johlene
I seriously dont know which of your delicious recipes I should comment on.. your family must love you! There is probably always something baking away in the oven or on the stove top.. Good thing you guys do exercise! lol Happy weekend!! xoxo
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, there's ALWAYS something baking! 😉 It's definitely good that we keep up with exercising! Thanks Johlene!
Tanya
I love easy dinners! It looks so tasty too. I will be putting this on next months menu for sure 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Tanya! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Target sucks me in everytime! I just went there yesterday for a "quick" trip and spent an hour there, and walked away with way more than I needed! This pasta looks delicious! I love that it's easy and quick to prepare with great flavors. Pinned!
Jona
Really love this recipe and the picture!
It seems easy and simple to make. Thanks!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jona! 🙂
Chelsea @ Gal on a Mission
I love easy meals like this, Jocelyn! Looks mouthwatering good! Gotta give this a try soon - the hubby will love me! Yum. 🙂
Layla @ Brunch Time Baker
I'm drooling over this pasta bake. Love how simple and easy it is to make .
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Layla!