↑
  • Recipes by Type
    • Recipe Index (Search)
    • All Recipes
    • Restaurant Copycat Recipes
    • Recipes by Method>>>
      • 30-Minute Meals
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Meal Prep Bowls
      • Sheet Pan Dinners
      • One Pot Recipes
      • Freezer-Friendly
      • Grilling & BBQ
      • Stir Fries
      • Pasta
    • Recipes by Diet>>>
      • Kid-Friendly
      • Gluten-Free
      • Low Carb
      • High Protein
      • Whole 30
    • Recipes by Protein>>>
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Recipes by Holiday>>>
      • Game Day
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Recipes by Season>>>
      • Winter Recipes
      • Spring Recipes
      • Summer Recipes
      • Fall Recipes
  • Recipes by Course
    • Appetizer
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Dressings, Sauces & Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • About Me
    • How to Meal Prep
    • Resource Guides
    • Contact Me
  • eBooks

The Girl on Bloor

Meal prep for busy people!

Start here Contact Privacy Policy
  • Recipes by Type
    • Recipe Index (Search)
    • All Recipes
    • Restaurant Copycat Recipes
    • Recipes by Method>>>
      • 30-Minute Meals
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Meal Prep Bowls
      • Sheet Pan Dinners
      • One Pot Recipes
      • Freezer-Friendly
      • Grilling & BBQ
      • Stir Fries
      • Pasta
    • Recipes by Diet>>>
      • Kid-Friendly
      • Gluten-Free
      • Low Carb
      • High Protein
      • Whole 30
    • Recipes by Protein>>>
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Recipes by Holiday>>>
      • Game Day
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St Patrick’s Day
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Recipes by Season>>>
      • Winter Recipes
      • Spring Recipes
      • Summer Recipes
      • Fall Recipes
  • Recipes by Course
    • Appetizer
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Dressings, Sauces & Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • About Me
    • How to Meal Prep
    • Resource Guides
    • Contact Me
  • eBooks
Home » Recipes » Freezer Meal: Chicken Pasta Bake

Freezer Meal: Chicken Pasta Bake

2/2/22

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

This Chicken Pasta Bake is freezer-friendly, made with red peppers, onions and spinach in rose sauce topped with mozzarella cheese!

Chicken Pasta Bake

Gain access to my free 4-week meal prep magic ebook!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription - in order to take part in the challenge you MUST press that confirm button! Check your "other" folder if you don't see that confirmation email. In the meantime, add me to your contacts to ensure that you receive my Challenge emails 🙂

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Ingredients and substitutions

  • Rigatoni pasta – any type of tubular pasta can work, such as penne or ziti.
  • Olive oil – any neutral oil can be used, such as avocado oil, vegetable oil, etc.
  • Chicken breasts – you can make this dish with or without chicken. You could use diced potatoes or veggies for a vegetarian option. You may also use a different type of meat, if desired, such as ground turkey or beef.
  • Garlic cloves – hand minced or store-bought minced garlic both work. You can also use garlic powder, garlic flakes or garlic salt, if preferred.
  • Red onion – this can be substituted with chives, shallots, leeks, onion powder, onion flakes, white onions, yellow onions, etc.
  • Salt & pepper – use to taste.
  • Red chili flakes – chili powder, cayenne pepper, hot paprika powder or chipotle powder all work well, too. This may also be omitted or adjusted, depending on your spice preference.
  • Marinara sauce – both homemade and store-bought work great. Any type of marinara sauce will do.
  • Sour cream – greek yogurt or smooth cottage cheese are both good substitute options. You may also use a dairy-free or lactose-free greek yogurt, if needed.
  • Red peppers – any colour pepper can work, such as green, yellow, orange, etc. Poblano and cubanelle peppers can also be used, as well as a spicier pepper, if wanting a bit of extra heat.
  • Spinach – baby spinach, kale, swiss chards, etc. are all great substitutes. Any type of leafy green will work.
  • Mozzarella cheese – provolone cheese is a good substitute option. A mild white cheddar, ricotta, gouda, feta, etc. may be used, too. To make this dish dairy-free, omit the cheese completely or use a dairy-free cheese instead.
  • Fresh basil leaves – fresh oregano or dried basil can both work, though the fresh leaves are a lovely addition.

Chicken Pasta Bake

Storing and reheating

To store, allow your cooked pasta to cool completely. You can then place it in an airtight container and keep it sealed in the fridge. This can be kept for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, place it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until hot. Adding a sprinkle of water over top of the pasta will keep it from drying out while reheating. You can also add fresh cheese and basil leaves on top once reheated.

Chicken Pasta Bake

Freezing and reheating

What really makes this chicken pasta bake amazing for meal prep though is the fact that it's a freezer meal!

I like to buy these foil containers from the dollar store to freeze individual portion sizes in because that way you can heat them up right in the oven – you'll want to reheat in a 350 F oven for 20 minutes or so until everything is warm and the cheese is melted.

Otherwise, you can freeze this chicken pasta bake in glass meal prep bowls and just reheat in the microwave – I do recommend using the oven though because it'll give you that fresh pasta taste and texture. The microwave sometimes dries pasta out.

Garnish your pasta bake with some fresh basil or parsley right when it comes out of the oven and you're set to go! I do highly recommend adding the fresh basil because it brings some colour to the finished dish and some freshness – and any kind of extra greens really never hurts!

Chicken Pasta Bake

More freezer meals

  • Freezer-friendly Homemade Pizza Pockets
  • Freezer-friendly Meal Prep: Baked Turkey Meatballs
  • Chickpea Salad Wrap {with Sweet Potato and Avocado}
  • Penne alla Vodka Pasta Bake

Meal prep tools

  • Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on packing this Chicken Pasta Bake in the freezer and defrosting in the microwave.
  • Or these aluminum foil containers are perfect for re-heating straight from the freezer to oven.
  • And of course I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box!
Chicken Pasta Bake

Freezer Meal: Chicken Pasta Bake

This Chicken Pasta Bake is freezer-friendly, made with red peppers, onions and spinach in rose sauce topped with mozzarella cheese!
4.94 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish, Pasta
Cuisine: American, Italian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 429kcal
Author: Taylor Stinson

Ingredients

  • 1 (450g) box rigatoni pasta (or 1lb)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 lb medium-sized chicken breasts, diced into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium sized red onion, sliced
  • 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
  • 1 (650mL) jar marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 2 cups spinach, chopped
  • 1 (453g) log fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • 10 fresh basil leaves (or chopped basil as a garnish)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F. Cook pasta to just before al dente, about 6-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over med-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes until lightly browned. Add onions and garlic, sauteeing another 1-2 minutes or so until fragrant. Add in marinara sauce, sour cream, salt and pepper and chili flakes, then bring just to a boil, stirring well.
  • Stir in red pepper and spinach, and then toss pasta in sauce mixture and remove from heat. Add pasta to a large greased 9x13 dish and then top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and starts to brown.
  • Remove from oven, garnish with basil leaves then serve and enjoy! You can freeze individual portions up to 3 months. To reheat, defrost in the microwave for 6-7 minutes or reheat in a 350 F oven for 20-30 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 757mg | Potassium: 405mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5300IU | Vitamin C: 41.3mg | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 3.6mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GirlonBloor or tag #girlonbloor!

This Chicken Pasta Bake is a freezer-friendly comfort food recipe made with rigatoni, red peppers, onions and spinach in a light rose sauce topped with lots of mozzarella cheese! #pastabake This Chicken Pasta Bake is a freezer-friendly comfort food recipe made with rigatoni, red peppers, onions and spinach in a light rose sauce topped with lots of mozzarella cheese! #pastabake

Previous article:
« The Healthiest Juicing Recipes {Cold Press Juice}
Next article:
Healthy Avocado Hummus Snack Jars »

About Taylor Stinson

Hey there, my name's Taylor! I’m the founder of The Girl on Bloor, a food blog where I share healthy meal prep recipes for busy people. I'm a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto on (you guessed it!) Bloor Street. I've got 10 years experience meal prepping, along with a Master's degree in journalism, and you can find my work across the internet featured on publications such as Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Women's Health, Reader's Digest and more. I also run the awesome 5-Day Meal Prep Challenge, which is a free email course and Facebook group where I share my meal planning strategies and easy meal prep tips and recipes. Be sure to check out my free beginner’s guide to meal prep and follow me on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to get my latest recipes and meal prep tips!

Comments

  1. Mia says

    February 23, 2021 at 17:16

    5 stars
    Great flavor and reheats well!

    Reply
    • Taylor Stinson says

      February 24, 2021 at 09:30

      I’m so happy you like it!

      Reply
    • Grace says

      November 20, 2021 at 08:48

      I find jn some recipes after you unfreeze the pasta is dry how is this recipe? Is it heat and serve and don’t have to add anymore sauce?

      Reply
      • Taylor Stinson says

        November 20, 2021 at 10:57

        You can sprinkle some water overtop and then reheat right from frozen in the oven to avoid this recipe from drying out. No more sauce needed!

        Reply
  2. Becky says

    June 20, 2020 at 09:35

    I’m from the UK, I don’t think any stores here sell marinara sauce, what would be the equivalent or could I make it myself?

    Thanks Becky

    Reply
    • Taylor Stinson says

      June 21, 2020 at 12:49

      Hi Becky – any jarred pasta sauce will do!

      Reply
  3. Anna says

    December 18, 2019 at 21:06

    Quick question….are u supposed to fully cook the chicken before u bake it in the oven or does it cook when you bake?? Thanks – cant wait to try this.

    Reply
    • Taylor Stinson says

      December 19, 2019 at 08:48

      Yes it says in the instructions to cook the chicken first! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Julie A O'Hagan says

    March 25, 2019 at 16:34

    I can freeze this in the 9 by 13 glass dish, right? Any advice. Defrost overnight first in fridge?

    Reply
    • Taylor Stinson says

      March 26, 2019 at 08:59

      Hey Julie – you can if it has a lid but I would avoid this if possible. It would take up way too much room in your freezer and then you would be without your casserole dish. I would recommend dividing the pasta into individual-sized servings in smaller glass containers with lids and freezing from there. To reheat, you can microwave on high for 6-7 minutes from frozen with a little water sprinkled overtop. No need to defrost in the fridge first.

      Reply
      • Julie A O'Hagan says

        March 31, 2019 at 13:33

        Thanks. But, I want to make it in advance and serve entire casserole to family coming later in month.I have room in my freezer, etc. SO, with that in mind, night you suggest overnight in fridge before cooking? Saran and foil would work , yes? Other advice?

        Reply
        • Taylor Stinson says

          April 3, 2019 at 10:23

          I would assume this would work! I have not tried this method myself though unfortunately. I have just reheated straight from freezer to microwave or oven.

          Reply
  5. Alyce says

    December 28, 2018 at 12:38

    Ok so do you fully cook in oven and THEN freeze?

    Reply
    • Taylor Stinson says

      December 28, 2018 at 17:03

      Yes you do!

      Reply
  6. Emma says

    November 29, 2018 at 21:36

    This looks delicious! Just curious -where did you get your 9×13 casserole dish?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Taylor Stinson says

      December 3, 2018 at 07:28

      Hey Emma! You can order a 9×13 dish online through Amazon through this affiliate link (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IUKIPYY/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thegirlonbloo-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01IUKIPYY&linkId=dba5afa019ff5144c2f40e0ed69cf387) or pick one up at any store that sells kitchenware. I believe I got mine at Canadian Tire but you should be able to find one at any department store or kitchen store. Hope that helps!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Taylor Stinson

Oh hey there, welcome!!

I'm Taylor Stinson, a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto. Looking to switch up your weekly meal prep routine? I've got you covered with healthy recipes and meal planning resources. Join 1.5 million other monthly readers and dive in! MORE ABOUT ME..

Most Popular

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

Easiest Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

Hibachi Chicken

Perfect Hibachi Chicken {Benihana Copycat}

The Very Best Meal Prep Ideas

36 Easy, Healthy Meal Prep Ideas {Ready in 1 Hour!}

Sheet pan dinners

25 Sheet Pan Dinners {Busy Weeknight Meals}

An overhead shot of 7 mason jars, each filled with a different smoothie.

The 7 Best Healthy Smoothies {Minimal Ingredients + Meal Prep Tips}

Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher

Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher

Gain access to my FREE five day meal prep challenge + bonus resources when you sign up.

learn how to meal prep by subscribing to our newsletter!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Amazing Summer Recipes

Quinoa Salad 5 Ways

5 Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes {+Meal Prep Tips}

A close-up of a bowl of Copycat McDonald's Southwest Salad with a fork in it.

McDonald’s Southwest Salad {Copycat Recipe}

Spicy Shrimp Stack with Mango Salsa

Spicy Shrimp Stacks with Mango Salsa

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos {Bonefish Grill Copycat}

Caribbean BBQ Tofu Vegetable Bowl

Caribbean-Inspired BBQ Tofu Bowl {Vegetarian}

A collage of four different recipes with the text "Healthy Summer BBQ Recipes" layered over top.

15 Healthy Summer BBQ Recipes!

Copyright ©2022, The Girl on Bloor. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites
Learn how to meal prep...the FAST way!
Download my dinner prep cheatsheet so you can prep ingredients in 1 hour each week. That way, dinner comes together in just 15-20 minutes each night!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL: