Summer Pasta (Dump-and-Bake!)
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5.0
                                            
                                            66 reviews
                                        
                                    
                                        Excellent
                                    
                                
																									Summer Pasta (Dump-and-Bake!)
															
																
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													This dump-and-bake summer pasta with corn, zucchini, tomatoes, and chicken is a quick, flavorful, and easy meal that the whole family will love!
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                                Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked penne pasta
 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (such as the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken)
 - 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (can substitute with a can of drained diced tomatoes)
 - 1 small zucchini (about 1 cup), diced
 - ½ cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen and thawed is fine)
 - ¼ cup chopped or torn fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
 - 3 cups chicken broth
 - 1 (22 ounce) jar Alfredo sauce (or 1 ½ 15-ounce jars) (approximately 2 ½ cups total)
 - ¼ cup white wine (or sub with extra broth or water)
 - ¼ cup prepared basil pesto
 - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (use less or omit entirely if you don't like it spicy)
 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
 - ¼ teaspoon onion powder
 - 1 cup (about 4 ounces) shredded Italian cheese blend or shredded mozzarella cheese
 - Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
 
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In the prepared dish, combine the uncooked pasta, chicken, tomatoes, zucchini, corn, and basil.
 - In a large bowl, whisk together chicken broth, Alfredo sauce, wine, pesto, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and onion powder. Pour over the pasta mixture in the dish and stir so that all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
 - Uncover; stir gently with a fork. At this point you should check the pasta to make sure that it is al dente (tender but with a firm bite). If it’s still too hard, cover the dish and return it to the oven until the pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.
 - Sprinkle the cheese over the top.
 - Place the dish under the broiler (uncovered) for 1-2 minutes, just until the cheese melts and starts to get crispy on top. Watch the dish the entire time since the food can burn quickly under the broiler. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Garnish with additional chopped fresh basil or other herbs and/or Parmesan cheese; serve.
 
Notes
- The new and improved version of this recipe was updated in May, 2024. If you're looking for the older version from 2017, you'll find it below:
 - 2 cups diced, cooked chicken
 - 1 cup halved grape tomatoes (can substitute with a can of undrained diced tomatoes)
 - 1 small zucchini (about 1 cup), diced
 - ½ cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen is fine)
 - 12 ounces (about 3 cups uncooked) uncooked penne pasta
 - 3 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
 - 8 ounces (about 2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
 - ½ cup chopped or torn fresh basil leaves, divided
 - 2 teaspoons minced garlic
 - ½ teaspoon salt
 - Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
 - In the prepared dish (or in a separate bowl), stir together cooked chicken, tomatoes, zucchini, corn, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese, about half of the basil leaves, minced garlic, and salt.
 - Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
 - Uncover; stir. At this point you should check the pasta to make sure that it is al dente (firm but just about finished cooking). If it’s still too hard, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.
 - Sprinkle remaining ½ cup of mozzarella over the top. Bake uncovered for 5-10 more minutes (or until cheese is melted and pasta is tender).
 - Garnish with remaining basil leaves just before serving.
 
Nutrition Information
Show Details
																							
												Serving  
												1/8th of the recipe
																																			
												Calories  
												501kcal
																									(25%)
																																			
												Carbohydrates  
												50g
																									(17%)
																																			
												Protein  
												26g
																									(52%)
																																			
												Fat  
												20g
																									(31%)
																																			
												Saturated Fat  
												9g
																									(45%)
																																			
												Polyunsaturated Fat  
												4g
																																			
												Monounsaturated Fat  
												4g
																																			
												Cholesterol  
												92mg
																									(31%)
																																			
												Sodium  
												1066mg
																									(44%)
																																			
												Potassium  
												355mg
																									(10%)
																																			
												Fiber  
												3g
																									(12%)
																																			
												Sugar  
												5g
																									(10%)
																																			
												Vitamin A  
												405IU
																									(8%)
																																			
												Vitamin C  
												7mg
																									(8%)
																																			
												Calcium  
												157mg
																									(16%)
																																			
												Iron  
												2mg
																									(11%)
																							
										
									Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 501 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/8th of the recipe | |
| Calories | 501kcal | 25% | 
| Carbohydrates | 50g | 17% | 
| Protein | 26g | 52% | 
| Fat | 20g | 31% | 
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% | 
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% | 
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% | 
| Cholesterol | 92mg | 31% | 
| Sodium | 1066mg | 44% | 
| Potassium | 355mg | 8% | 
| Fiber | 3g | 12% | 
| Sugar | 5g | 10% | 
| Vitamin A | 405IU | 8% | 
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% | 
| Calcium | 157mg | 16% | 
| Iron | 2mg | 11% | 
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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Overall Rating
5.0
                                                
                                                66 reviews
                                            
                                        
                                            Excellent
                                        
                                        
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