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Leftover Chicken Pasta Bake
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4.59 from 63 votes

Leftover Chicken Pasta Bake

This leftover chicken pasta bake recipe is a great way to use up leftover roast chicken and is sure to become a real favorite with the whole family.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Additional Time10 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Family Dinners
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 364kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Chicken Ragu

  • 2 tbsps olive oil
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tbsps tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs
  • ½ pint chicken stock (250ml)
  • salt & pepper
  • 2 cups leftover roast chicken (250g)

For the Cheese Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon butter (20g)
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour (20g)
  • 1 cup milk (200ml)
  • cup grated cheese (80g)

To Make the Pasta Bake

  • 1 lb penne pasta (550g)
  • ½ cup grated cheese

Instructions

For the chicken ragu

  • Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add onions and cook over a medium heat until softened.
  • Add the garlic and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the can of tomatoes, herbs and tomato paste and mix together.
  • Pour in the stock, season with salt & pepper and bring to the boil.
  • Let it cook & bubble for a good 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want to end up with a good thick sauce.
  • Stir in the chicken and heat through for around 5-10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile cook the cheese sauce and pasta.

For the Cheese Sauce

  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat.
  • Stir in the flour.
  • Using a whisk or wooden spoon, gradually add in the milk, stirring all the time.
  • Continue stirring over a medium heat until the mixture has thickened to sauce consistency.
  • Stir in the grated cheese and continue stirring until the cheese has all been incorporated and you have a thick creamy sauce.

To assemble the Pasta Bake

  • Cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
  • Drain the cooked pasta and return to the saucepan.
  • Stir in the chicken ragu and cheese sauce and mix well together.
  • Tip all the ingredients into an ovenproof dish, sprinkle the cheese over the top and bake in the oven at 400F / 200C or under a preheated broiler until the cheese on top is bubbling and starting to brown.

Notes

If you have a Thermomix, you can make the cheese sauce in the Thermomix very easily. Follow the instructions in our Mac and Cheese recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 4g | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 448mg | Sugar: 2g