Description
A budget-friendly, smoky, and creamy pasta bake that uses simple ingredients like rotisserie chicken, BBQ sauce, and cheddar cheese. It’s a quick, comforting meal perfect for weeknights and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz uncooked pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Salted water for boiling pasta
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté diced onion for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add shredded chicken and stir to combine. Warm through for 2 minutes.
- Pour in BBQ sauce, add frozen corn, and stir to coat the chicken and onions.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water if the mixture is too thick.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Undercook the pasta slightly as it will continue to cook in the oven. Sautéing the onions is crucial for flavor. If using a wet BBQ sauce, consider reducing it slightly on the stove first. The dish stores well in the fridge for up to four days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 980
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: BBQ chicken pasta, budget meals, comfort food, easy dinner, rotisserie chicken recipes, pasta bake, meal prep