Description
Mouthwatering chicken salsa pasta bake delivers robust Mexican-inspired flavors straight to dinner tables. Hearty pasta layers combine zesty ingredients with rich cheese, promising a satisfying meal eager diners will crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
- 8 oz (226 g) angel hair pasta
- 2 (10 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
- 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
- 1 cup salsa
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- Dried parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a rectangular baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Pasta Cooking: Boil angel hair pasta until al dente, then drain thoroughly, returning noodles to the cooking pot.
- Flavor Fusion: Combine shredded chicken, condensed soup, salsa, sour cream, half the cheese, and taco seasoning with pasta, mixing until ingredients are evenly distributed and thoroughly incorporated.
- Assembly: Transfer the creamy mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it uniformly and topping with remaining cheese and a light sprinkle of dried parsley.
- Baking: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes, ensuring the casserole is heated through and cheese melts into a golden, bubbling layer.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Choose angel hair for quick cooking and delicate texture, but whole wheat or gluten-free options work equally well.
- Chicken Choice: Use rotisserie chicken for maximum flavor and time-saving convenience, or quickly shred leftover grilled chicken.
- Cheese Strategy: Mix different cheese varieties like cheddar and monterey jack for deeper, more complex flavor profile.
- Spice Control: Adjust taco seasoning intensity based on personal heat preference – mild for kids, spicier for adventurous palates.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg