A pasta bake with plenty of thick, creamy tomato sauce….made with NO CREAM….all in ONE POT! Even the pasta is cooked right in the pan with the sauce! Creamy Tomato Pasta Bake with Chicken is the ultimate recipe for low-effort comfort food to feed a family or group of friends.
My mother makes an incredible Japanese pasta bake called Makaroni Guratan, which is basically Macaroni Gratin pronounced with a Japanese accent. It is soooo typical of the Japanese to change the spelling of English words to the way Japanese pronounce it. It’s an endless source of amusement for me!
As the name implies, it is macaroni baked in a classic french “gratin” style with a creamy white sauce made from a roux. It was a childhood favourite and I used to nag my mother to make it frequently, but she only ever treated us with it for special occasions. So I got to know Makaroni Guratan as a special occasion dish.
As I grew older and started to cook, I realised why she only made it for special occasions….because it is such an effort to make! It requires four separate pots/pans/dishes. FOUR!! A pot to cook the pasta, a saucepan to make the white sauce, a fry pan to sauté the chicken and mushroom and a baking dish to bake it all in.
Shoot me now.
It is worth the effort. But I only make it for special occasions…..(they do say daughters turn into their mothers….)
But I love saucy pasta bakes, so I invented my own creamy tomato one-pot version which is really convenient for midweek meals. I don’t like to cook with cream for midweek meals so this is made using a simple roux base (don’t let that fancy sounding word scare you, it’s just butter + flour that is used as a thickener for the sauce). Also, if you wanted to make a pasta bake as saucy as I’ve made this, you would need three cartons of cream….my arteries are hardening just at the thought!
This pasta bake is based on the same technique I use for my One Pot Saucy Creamy Mac and Cheese. It is not quite as saucy so it holds together better when you serve it, as opposed to the Mac and Cheese which collapses into a pile of cheesy creamy deliciousness.
I hope you consider trying it! It’s a great one for midweek. 🙂 I mean, seriously…check out all that creamy tomato sauce!! – Nagi
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One Pot Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta Bake (no cream)
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 small onion , diced
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 6 tbsp / 1/2 cup plain flour
- 2 cups milk (500ml)
- 2 cups tomato passata (500ml) (Note 1)
- 1 cup water (or chicken or vegetable broth) (250ml)
- 2 tsp salt
- Black pepper
- 3 cups dried ziti / penne pasta (uncooked)
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Pepper
Garnish (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Freshly grated parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
- Melt butter in a deep fry pan or skillet (Note 2) over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent. Add the flour and stir to combine, then cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the milk and whisk for 1 minute, in small circles around the fry pan, until it starts to thicken. Then add the tomato passata, water, salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium high and cook for around 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon (see photo below). Whisk occasionally for the first 3 minutes, then whisk constantly for the last 2 minutes.
- Do a taste test and add 1 to 2 tsp of sugar if it is a bit sour (depends on quality of passata you use).
- Add the ziti/penne, chicken and cheddar cheese and mix through. Leave it to cook for around 1 minute on the stove, then take it off the stove.
- Scatter with mozzarella cheese. Cover with a lid or foil (Note 3) and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the lid/foil and bake for a further 5 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes before serving, garnished with fresh basil leaves and grated parmesan, if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
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Hi! Thanks a bunch for the recipe, used it for when I had an empty fridge, adding some cheese sauce mix and taking out some flour and mozarella. But, probably an obvious question, do you cook the chicken before adding it to the mix? (I fried it off first to be careful first time I done this!)
Thanks again for the recipe 🙂
Hi Oliver! You described it perfectly – it IS great for empty fridge nights!!! Yes I cook the chicken before adding it to the mix, did I not say that? Odd. I’ll check the recipe!
Thanks for this recipe! I tried it and found that the amount of cooking time was not enough to cook the pasta. It was still too hard after 15 minutes in the oven and 5 minutes resting. Ultimately, I had to put it back on the stove and add a significant amount of liquid to get it cooked. While I was at it, I also added some peas for color and minimum vegetable-ness :). In the end, we thought it was OK, but not overwhelming in flavor or healthy-ness. Definitely easy, though!
Hi Polina! Yup, this doesn’t have massive “KAPOW” flavours, it is more creamy-dreamy 🙂 Glad you found it easy! What type of pasta did you use? That will affect the cooking time quite substantially 🙂
This looks awesome
I’ve just started loving violin and I plan to make this today. Sorry if it’s a silly question but I can’t tell from the method of the pasta is already cooked like the chicken or u just dropped them from the box. 🙂 thank u
Hi Nomz! No such thing as a silly question when it comes to recipes 🙂 The pasta is raw, straight out of the box. Easy! No extra pots to wash! 🙂
Being a swede in Sweden (duh) I am so tired of swedish recipes and are always searching the net for inspiration. I found it!!! Thank you for your wonderful blog and even better recipes. I admit it’s a bit of an effort to try to change everything in to Swedish, but hey, I’m getting there.
Just wanted to tell you that this dish is perfect for a freezing week 😉 Be good!
That’s so true Patricia! Did I not mention that? I must update it. Thank you for coming by! I am glad you enjoy my recipes. To be honest, I don’t know much Swedish recipes! Hmm, off to do some research…. Oh wait, meatballs! That’s on my list of things to make! Swedish Meatballs – YUM!
Made this today with some tweaks for my in-laws! Added in some bacon chunks and used just mozzarella instead of cheddar and had to use 2 pots haha, no oven and stove proof pots 🙁 but it turned out beautifully and that sauce oh my word! To die for 🙂 beautiful recipe and one we will be definitely making again!
Hi Laura – thank you so much for coming back to share your feedback! I am so glad you enjoyed it, and of course, adding bacon…well, you’ve just made it even better! Two pots…tut, tut!! (But worth it!!) 🙂
Hehe! Need to invest in a pot that can work on the stove and in the oven for the next time I make this recipe .. over and over again 😉
This looks so darn good, all that cheesy, tomato goodness. Pure comfort food and the addition of the chicken makes this a one pan meal for me! Did Amanda give you some of her families’ passata? 😉
PS Can’t believe there’s no cream in this, beautiful.
* GASP * HOW did I not think to ask?? I’m emailing her right now!! 🙂
OhhEmmmGeeee Nagi you are killin’ me here girl!! I swear I can have eaten a 4 course meal, and be full to the brim, but as soon as I hit your blog and see your gorgeous photography of your delicious food I want to lick the screen!! WOW how was that for a run on sentence???
He he!! You crack me up Bobbi!! And it just made me realise….how is it I haven’t seen your latest posts?? Hmm. Popping over to check out why I’m not getting new recipes. HAPPY EASTER!! 🙂
Looks gorgeous! I like creamy pasta bakes, but never make them, I always go to my mom’s to have some, she makes great ones! Definitely trying this for dinner tomorrow, love that there is no cream 🙂
Thanks so much Mira!! I did think you might enjoy this one with no cream 🙂 Happy Easter!!
Hi Nagi:
You can do your macaroni and cheese in one pot and a casserole dish.
Cook your macaroni, put in casserole dish.
Saute you chicken, add to macaroni.
Make your roux and add to casserole dish, mix, put in oven.
Macaroni, chicken, sauce all in one pot. :~D
Hi Charlie! Very true…but I think my mother chooses to use FOUR pots because that way she can get all 3 components going at the same time rather than one after the other…..! I hope she never finds out, but I’ve also made her Macaroni Gratin the way I made this one pot pasta bake….she would honestly berate me if she knew that, telling me that’s just NOT the same….(hmmm…I might have to do a blind test with her and she if she can tell the difference!!)
Oh so creamy, but without cream! YES, I am all in! I love one pot meal, because I hate washing dishes. Will try this for sure. Moms are the best. They always make us our favorite food, even though it requires so much work and time. I miss my mom’s cooking.
I bet you do! Growing up in Hong Kong, you must’ve had the most incredible food. PS Loving meeting a fellow “vertically challenged” blogger….I’m just on 5 feet!! 🙂
Nagi, your mom’s Makaroni Guratan sounds amazing. . and oh my gawd, seriously woman, you make me drool every time I visit your blog . . this is beyond amazing!!!! Pinned!!!!
Awww, thanks so much Alice!! Well, you know mom’s….they make the BEST food ever, right? Happy easter Alice!! 🙂
Just died and went to foodie heaven! It’s morning, I haven’t had anything to eat, and now my stomach is totally growling. This dish looks absolutely fantastic – so creamy (without cream), so cheesy, so incredible!
Funny that, I always seem to be on YOUR site in the morning and I am tortured by the amazing food while I munch on boring toast!! 🙂 Happy Easter Kathleen!
I made this for dinner tonight. Thaanks so much x. It is delicious and so easy to make. I’ll be making this again for sure. Everyone loved it.
Wow Christine, that was fast! I am SO pleased you enjoyed it! This technique I use for this pasta bake is a personal favourite, I used it to make not just pasta bakes but gratins and saucy one-pot pastas too.
Thank you SO MUCH for coming back to share your feedback!! 🙂
Nagi love the idea of using tomatoes!! This looks so creamy and delicious!
Thanks so much Ami! CREAMY is an understatement….it’s sooooo saucy and delicious!! 🙂
What a gorgeous dish dish and recipe Nagi!
Love your photography as the dish looks warm and welcoming and want to try some right now!
Thanks so much Joanne! Happy Easter to you and your family! 🙂
This sounds like it has a very nice flavor, and I also like the nutritional profile, so this is going on my list of recipes to try. Thanks for posting something easy – I’m currently a little frustrated with how much energy some simple-sounding recipes take to prepare.
Hi Susan – I know what you mean! I’m making a recipe for a client tomorrow and it LOOKS innocent enough but I just got back from the shops and I had to go to FIVE different stores just to get the ingredients!! Shoot me now. I’m exhausted! 🙂 Have a wonderful Easter Susan!
Dear Nagi,
I am a big fan of one pot bakes, especially when it involves cheese and I love your mac and cheese recipe too!
Thanks ChopinandMysaucepan! I’m actually a bit fussy about one pot bakes. Being Asian, I have a “thing” about mushy pasta. I got the cooking time down pat for this one so it ISN’T mushy! Have a great Easter! One day you will disclose your real names to me so I can address you properly 😉
I will definitely be trying this!! And yes… one pot sounds so much better than 4. I love this because cream doesn’t always agree with me – but I love creamy pastas. I’m going to make this over the Easter weekend. Thank you as always!
Thanks for reading Lucy! Happy Easter to you and your family 🙂 I have a feeling the snickers slice is going to make an appearance again at my lunch! 🙂
First time visiting your site! Your pasta looks great and makes me hungry again even though I just finished my dinner. I love the addition of the milk in the sauce!
Hi Holly – I am loving the name of your blog and popping by to have a read! I am guessing you have a Korean background – I LOVE Korean food! Yay! 🙂
What? Tomato sauce without cream can look so creamy? How is that possible? Looks and sounds delish as always! 🙂
Thanks so much Nic! I know, right?? I learnt to make roux from a very young age because of how much I love creamy sauces but I just can’t bring myself to use cream for midweek meals!!