Baked pasta casseroles are tried and true comfort food favorites, and this savory, smoky twist on that concept is no exception. Made with penne pasta, chicken thighs, bacon, bbq sauce, and Gouda cheese, this bbq chicken pasta bake is a great way to bring a new combination of flavors to your weeknight dinner routine.
Notes From the MGC Kitchen
When we first thought about creating this recipe, what we had in mind was a barbecue version of mac and cheese. However, the idea soon morphed into a main dish casserole with a combination of ingredients that incorporates the flavors of barbecue and cheese in a more subtle, thoughtful fashion. Served with simple sides like buttered green beans and a salad with ranch dressing, this dish makes a truly satisfying meal.
Key Ingredients
This is an overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. Please see the printable recipe card below for the complete listing, including quantities.
- CHICKEN THIGHS: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are the best choice for this dish because they’ll maintain their tender, juicy texture through both the initial sautéing and the time it takes to bake the assembled dish. You could substitute leftover rotisserie chicken, as a shortcut (ou would need about 2 cups).
- PASTA: Choose a cut of pasta that has ridges to hold the sauce and melted cheese. We opted for penne, but rotini, or medium-sized shells are options as well.
- BACON: When it comes to adding bacon bits to a dish, we generally choose to use a thick-cut variety. In addition to its rich, smoky flavor, it has a satisfying, meaty texture that doesn’t get lost amongst the other ingredients.
- RED ONION: If you’ve ever had a barbecue chicken pizza, it probably had red onion on it. Once sautéed it has a mild sweet flavor that goes great with bacon and many varieties of cheese.
- SCALLIONS: Scallions bring some additional onion flavor and a pop of color to this dish. You can however omit them by simply adding an extra tablespoon or two of chopped red onion.
- CILANTRO: Fans of cilantro like us really appreciate the fresh note a handful of this fragrant herb brings to this dish. If you don’t care for cilantro you can use parsley or chives, of just omit it altogether with no substitutions.
- GOUDA CHEESE: Gouda cheese melts well, has a creamy texture, and a mild nutty flavor. You could use smoked Gouda if you’re one who enjoys a bolder smoky flavor, but personally, we’re happy with the job the bacon does on that front.
- BBQ SAUCE: Our recipe includes the ingredients to make a light, 2-minute bbq style sauce created just for this dish, but you can certainly use you favorite bottled brand from the grocery store.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Pasta Bake
This is an overview of how this recipe is prepared. Please see the printable recipe card below for detailed step-by-step instructions.
COOK THE PASTA AND FRY THE BACON: Preheat the oven. Cook and drain the pasta and set aside. Fry the bacon and drain, leaving some of the rendered fat in the pan.
SAUTE THE ONION AND CHICKEN: Return the pan to the stove, sauté the onion until softened, then add the chicken and cook until no longer pink. Remove the pan from the heat, add the reserved bacon, and a few grinds of black pepper.
MAKE THE SAUCE: Prepare the sauce by whisking the ketchup, honey, soy sauce, vinegar and mustard together in a small bowl.
COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND BAKE THE PASTA: Combine the chicken, scallions, cilantro and most of the grated cheese. Transfer everything to the baking dish, top with the remaining cheese, then taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Bake uncovered, until everything is piping hot and the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
Shortcut Version
Here’s how to make a shortcut version of this easy casserole dish:
Skip cooking the chicken from scratch and use 2 cups of leftover rotisserie chicken (preferably the meat from the thighs and drumsticks) and substitute the homemade bbq sauce with 1/2 cup of your favorite bottle brand from the store.
BBQ Chicken Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces (see notes)
- 8 ounces pasta, (penne, rotini, ziti)
- 2 strips thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, (substitute parsley or chives)
- 4 ounces Gouda cheese (regular or smoked), coarsely grated
For the bbq sauce (see notes):
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and generously coat a 1-1/2 quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain well and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, fry the bacon until crisp and using a slotted spatula, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 2 tablespoons of fat in the pan.
- Return the pan to the stove over medium heat and sauté the onion in the bacon fat until softened, 2 minutes. Add the chicken, season with about 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and continue cooking, stirring often, until the chicken is no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes longer.
- Remove the pan from the heat, add the reserved bacon, and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Prepare the sauce by whisking the ketchup, honey, soy sauce, vinegar and mustard together in a small bowl. If using bottled barbecue sauce, measure out about 1/2 cup.
- Add the sauce to the chicken mixture, along with the scallions, cilantro and all but 1/4 cup of the grated cheese. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Transfer everything to the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cheese. Bake uncovered until everything is piping hot and the cheese is melted and creamy, about 15 minutes.
Notes
SHORTCUT VERSION:
Here’s how to make a shortcut version of this easy casserole dish: Skip cooking the chicken from scratch and use 2 cups of leftover rotisserie chicken (preferably the meat from the thighs and drumsticks) and substitute the homemade bbq sauce with 1/2 cup of your favorite bottle brand from the store.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This sounds delicious! I will be making it soon!
This is an awesome, easy recipe. My kids really love it!
Glad you and the kids like the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to come back and let us know!