Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake Scrumptious Family Dinner

Ingredients

• 2 cups rotini pasta
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup basil pesto
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• to taste salt and pepper
• for garnish fresh basil leaves

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, pesto, cherry tomatoes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
4. Add the cooked pasta to the chicken mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.
5. In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese together until creamy.
6. In a greased baking dish, spread half of the pasta mixture evenly on the bottom.
7. Spoon the ricotta and mozzarella mixture over the pasta layer, spreading it out evenly.
8. Top with the remaining pasta mixture and sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
10. Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
11. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.