Cheesy Parmesan Chicken & Penne Pasta: A Quick Easy Meal for the Holiday Rush #holidaypairing

Disclosure. This is a sponsored post on behalf of Acorn Influence. Regardless, all opinions are 100% my own.

Life is getting busier and busier with the approaching holidays. Soon, we will be in full swing of holiday shopping, office parties, and family get-togethers. I’m all for a good party and, of course, I love getting together with family, but then again, a lot of the get-togethers require you to bring a dish. That is all good and fine, but when are you going to have time to cook? What are you going to cook? Panic sets in – EEK! Relax! Take a breath! We have you covered! With Barilla Pasta and Galbani Cheese, you can have a tantalizing dish whipped up in a heartbeat like this delicious ooey-gooey Cheesy Parmesan Chicken & Penne Pasta my family and friends love!

Everyone, or most everyone, LOVES pasta, right? Well, this Cheesy Parmesan Chicken & Penne Pasta is the perfect dish whether you need an easy meal for the family or a dish worthy of taking to the office. Barilla Pasta and Galbani Cheese make the perfect pairing in this cheesy pasta casserole! You will also appreciate that it makes a large 9×13 pan – big enough for a crowd!

Pasta is amazing in itself because of its versatility and the variety of dishes you can make with it. There is a whole world of delicious recipes out there that feature this simple ingredient and it is the perfect start to a scrumptious dish! The one thing I won’t fudge on is the kind of pasta I use. I love using Barilla Pasta in my recipes because it is made with a few simple wholesome ingredients! Who says pasta can’t be delicious AND healthy?

It’s time to rethink pasta! It’s a lot more than our childhood favorite mac and cheese, even though it is a favorite of mine too! And, we can leave off the guilt about pasta! Did you know that pasta is an important part of the Mediterranean diet? You have probably heard the Mediterranean diet is healthy, but did you know it incorporates a variety of quality food groups that should be eaten often in reasonable quantities, including pasta? That is my kind of diet!One last tip! Nothing beats Galbani cheese for pasta dishes for its delicious taste and texture! You will love that it has no additives like cellulose, potato starch, or other anti-clumping agents! You can find Galbani cheese in chunks for either shredding or slicing. The shredding variety has a better, more consistent melt, and is stretchier.

Both Barilla Pasta and Galbani Cheese can be found at your local Walmart store. How is that for convenience? The next time you are shopping at Walmart, stock up on Barilla pasta and Galbani cheese and be prepared the next time you need an easy meal or a dish to take to the office.

Even better you can earn $2 on the Ibotta app with the purchase of any Barilla Pasta or Sauce and Galbani Cheese.

Cheesy Parmesan Chicken & Penne Pasta
featuring Barilla Pasta and Galbani Cheese

Ingredients:

12 oz. Barilla Penne pasta
2 cups cooked cubed chicken (approximately  2 small chicken breasts or 5-6 tenders)
1 – 24 oz.  jar Barilla Pasta Sauce (Traditional or Marinara)
1 1/2 cups shredded Galbani Mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Bring water to a rolling boil and add a generous amount of salt.

Add pasta and cook until al dente (approximately 10-11 mins) in a large stockpot of generously-salted boiling water.

While pasta is cooking, pan-fry chicken breast and cut into cubes. You can also use grilled chicken breast or leftover chicken breast.

Grate the cheese and set aside.

Drain pasta and return to pot. Add the cubed chicken, pasta sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Gently stir to combine until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated.

Spray or grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Pour half of the pasta into the greased into the baking dish.

Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, half of the Parmesan cheese, and half of the basil.Add the remaining half of the pasta evenly on top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes (oven temps. vary) until the cheese is melted.Remove from oven and sprinkle with a little extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.Serve warm while ooey and gooey!

Enjoy!

TIP: Want to go meatless? Simply leave out the chicken. The casserole is still just as delicious!

Remember, you can earn $2 on Ibotta when you purchase Barilla Pasta or Sauce and Galbani Cheese.

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