Chicken and Tomato Pasta Bake
Chicken and penne in tomato sauce, topped with a cheesy sauce and baked until bubbling.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Cheese sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.66 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Cook the penne in salted boiling water for 2 minutes less than the packet says, then drain.
8 min - 2
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pan and fry the chicken for 6 minutes until golden and cooked through with no pink.
6 min - 3
Stir in your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe), the sweetcorn and the pasta. Season and tip into a baking dish.
- 4
Pour over your ready made cheese sauce (see the base recipe) and spread to cover. Scatter over the cheddar.
- 5
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and bubbling at the edges. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
25 min
Tips
- Undercook the pasta slightly, as it keeps softening in the sauce while it bakes.
- Add a handful of spinach with the tomato sauce for some greens.
- Use gluten free penne for a gluten free version, and check the cheese sauce is gluten free.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze for 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I freeze it before baking?
Yes. Assemble in a freezer-safe dish, cool fully, wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, then bake as above.
Can I use leftover roast chicken?
Yes. Use about 400 g cooked chicken and stir it in with the sauce so it only needs heating through.
How do I stop it drying out?
Keep plenty of sauce around the pasta and cover with foil for the first 15 minutes of baking if the top browns too quickly.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
