Italian Baked Chicken and Pasta

Italian Baked Chicken and Pasta

Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup Italian pastina (or any small pasta, I used small shells)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup cubed chicken breast
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice (I recommend using the ones with Italian seasoning)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter, plus more
• butter, for baking dish

Directions

• 1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• 2 Bring medium pot of salted water to boil.
• 3 Add pasta and cook until just tender about 5 minutes. Drain into large bowl.
• 4 Meanwhile heat olive oil in medium sautee pan over med heat.
• 5 Add chicken and cook about 3 minutes.
• 6 Add onions and garlic combine and cook about 5 minutes more or until chicken is done and onions soft.
• 7 Add chicken to pasta in bowl, stir in canned tomatoes, mozzarella, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined.
• 8 Place in buttered 8x8x2 dish.
• 9 In small bowl combine bread crumbs and Parmesan.
• 10 Spread over pasta mixture.
• 11 Dot the top with butter.
• 12 Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.