Italian Baked Chicken Pastina

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In true foodie form, I absolutely love the Food Network.  We first saw this recipe together while watching Giada’s show on demand late one night.  This baked pasta dish looked so amazing that we had to try it out the next day.  The pastina was such a success that we have made it a regular meal in our dinner rotation.  Click here to see its page on the Food Network website, but I will give the recipe below as well:

Ingredients:

 

• 1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
• 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish

 

 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.

Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. 

 

I love this recipe because it’s delicious, comforting, and a crowd pleaser.  If you’re only cooking for one, two, or three, you will definitely have leftovers, which heat up great for lunch the next day.  I encourage you to make this heavenly pasta and enjoy – you will not be disappointed.

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Filed under Pastas @ Home

Tags: baked, cheese, chicken, macaroni, pasta, pastina, tomatoes