1-First Step: Prepare the Chicken Toss the 1.5 lbs diced chicken tenderloins with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1.5 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and freshly ground pepper. This step seasons the meat evenly, ensuring it’s flavorful throughout the creamy pesto chicken pasta bake. Let it sit for a few minutes while you heat your skillet, allowing the flavors to soak in.

2-Second Step: Cook the Pasta Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the 10 oz rigatoni and cook to al dente, which takes about 8-10 minutes depending on the brand. For the best creamy pesto pasta, drain the pasta but reserve some cooking water to adjust the sauce later if needed, preventing it from becoming too thick.

3-Third Step: Sear the Chicken In an oven-safe skillet over medium heat, cook the seasoned chicken in 2 tablespoons olive oil for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Reduce heat to low if it starts browning too quickly to keep the chicken tender. Once done, remove it from the skillet and set aside, which should take around 10 minutes total for this part of the creamy pesto chicken pasta recipe.

4-Fourth Step: Sauté the Aromatics Using the same skillet on medium-low heat, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Add the diced medium yellow onion and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes,Sauce then stir in the 4 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, roughly 1 minute. This builds a flavorful base for your pesto chicken pasta casserole without overwhelming the other ingredients.

5-Fifth Step: Create the Sauce Add 3 cups whole milk, 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes if using, and salt and pepper to taste; stir well. Incorporate the 8 oz drained sun-dried tomatoes and 1.5 cups broccoli florets, then bring to a simmer and cook until the broccoli softens, about 5 minutes. For dietary adaptations, you can swap milk for half-and-half here to make it richer or lighter based on preferences.

6-Sixth Step: Combine Everything Stir in the 2 cups fresh baby spinach until it wilts, which happens quickly in the hot sauce. Fold in the cooked rigatoni, seared chicken, and 1/3 cup pesto until everything is well combined, creating that signature creamy texture. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to help it coat the pasta perfectly in this baked pesto chicken pasta dish.

7-Final Step: Broil and Serve Preheat your oven broiler. Top the skillet with 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella and 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Broil for 3-5 minutes until the cheese melts and browns slightly, keeping a close eye to avoid burning. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving your creamy pesto chicken pasta bake, which yields about 8 servings for family gatherings or potlucks. For added value, check out our Cajun chicken pasta recipe for more spicy inspirations.