Spicy Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake

CREDITS

فاطمة داود

INGREDIENTS

For the pasta:
500g pasta (any shape – penne or macaroni works well)
1.5 litres water
¼ teaspoon rough salt

For the chicken mix:
2 tablespoons oil or ghee (Clarified butter)
1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
3 full chicken fillets, cut into small cubes (around 2½ to 3 cups)
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
2 teaspoons crushed green chilli (or to taste)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon red chilli powder

For the creamy tomato base:
1 cup frozen sweetcorn, rinsed and drained
2 medium tomatoes, liquidised
½ tin tomato purée (about 100g)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
250ml fresh cream (1 cup)
375ml full cream milk (1½ cups)
1 small tub sour cream (250ml)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
6 tablespoons peri-peri sauce (adjust heat level to your preference)

For baking:
1½ cups grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella or a mix)
2 teaspoons za’atar for topping

METHOD

Step 1 – Boil the pasta:
1. In a pot, bring 1.5 litres water to a boil.

2. Add ¼ teaspoon rough salt.

3. Add pasta and cook for 10–12 minutes or until soft.

4. Drain the pasta and set aside.


Step 2 – Cook the chicken:
1. Heat oil or ghee (Clarified butter) in a large pan over medium heat.

2. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and golden.

3. Add cubed chicken and cook until the colour changes to white.

4. Add ginger garlic paste, green chilli, black pepper, and red chilli powder.

5. Stir well and cook for another 5–7 minutes until fully cooked.


Step 3 – Add veggies and tomato base:
1. Add sweetcorn, liquidised tomatoes, tomato purée, and lemon juice.

2. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes to bring the flavours together.


Step 4 – Make it creamy:
1. Add fresh cream, milk, sour cream, mayonnaise, and peri-peri sauce.

2. Mix everything well.

3. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes.


Step 5 – Add pasta to the sauce:
1. Add the cooked pasta into the pan.

2. Stir until the pasta is fully coated in the creamy chicken sauce.


Step 6 – Bake the dish:
1. Spoon the mixture into a casserole or ovenproof dish.

2. Sprinkle grated cheese evenly over the top.

3. Sprinkle za’atar for flavour — it really adds something special.

4. Bake at 180°C for 10–15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.

INFO & TIPS

This creamy pasta bake is spicy, cheesy, and full of flavour. It looks impressive but is super easy to make, even if you've never cooked before. The za’atar adds a lovely Middle Eastern flavour that pairs beautifully with the melted cheese. Perfect for weekend dinners, Eid tables, or to impress guests!

POSTED ON

08 Jun 2025

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